Our Impact & Success
Since the charity was established in 2008, Hope for the Young has been promoting education and helping young people to achieve their potential through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.
Since the charity was established in 2008, Hope for the Young has been promoting education and helping young people to achieve their potential through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.
Prior to the launch of Hope for the Young in 2008, our current Chair of Trustees, Dr Saedi, was part of a team of health professionals who set up and ran a mental health service for unaccompanied asylum-seekers in London. Three years later, when funding from the Department of Health came to an end, Hope for the Young was established to continue reaching out to the young people left without support.
Since then, Hope for the Young has grown significantly from a small grant-making charity led entirely by its trustees, to an organisation that reached 133 young people in 2022, with five staff members, over 100 volunteers, and a clear mission to remove the obstacles to young refugees’ education and wellbeing.
I felt like the crushing weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders…The generosity I was bestowed with was a turning point at a truly harrowing time. The contribution Hope for the Young has made and continues to make in my life will never be forgotten.
grants awarded to young people to access further and higher education
of young people either completed or continued their studies after receiving a grant in 2020.
hours of tailored one-to-one mentoring support provided to young refugees
of young people said their English had improved as a result of mentoring
of young people reported feeling less lonely as a result of mentoring
of young people said mentoring had helped them progress in education
of young people reported an increase in confidence after 6 months of mentoring
young people received emergency supplies from us throughout Covid-19
of grantees felt supported to access new opportunities and services
Through mentoring I have been inspired by the resilience and adaptability of my mentee. Even in the face of an uncertain future, exacerbated by the pandemic, I am consistently reminded that there is something new to be learned each day, and opportunities for growth and connection with others in the challenges we face.
After arriving in the UK alone at the age of 14, and living in limbo for over 9 years without the support he needed, meeting Ella each week finally enabled Yousef to progress with his education, access volunteering opportunities, and build the confidence he needed to start rebuilding his life.
Abel, a young man from Ethiopia, found the confidence to embrace his identity with the help of his mentor, Nicole.
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Ismail, 24, arrived in the UK as a child. As a teenager, he realised he was ‘undocumented’ and his irregular status would cast a long shadow over his early adulthood, eventually leading to mental health problems. After a decade-long battle to regu...
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Hakim, originally from Afghanistan, found his feet in the UK with the support of his mentor Muzzy.
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Mansoor, from Afghanistan, completes his education against all odds and achieves his goal of becoming a Dental Hygienist.
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Jemal, a 17-year-old boy from Eritrea, had been in the UK for one year before being referred to the Mentoring Programme. He was not in education and was suffering from an increasing lack of stimulation whilst going through the complex asylum proce...
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Arooba’s arrival in the UK in circumstances beyond her control placed her in a period of extended uncertainty at a crucial time in her life. This is her inspirational story of strength and determination in reclaiming her education.
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Before settling in England, Samantha had lived in Germany and France, while Azim had travelled a long way from Afghanistan. Samantha, a professional and confident business woman, ran her own successful recycling business whereas Azim, who came fro...
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This is Hossein's story of resilience and recovery during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Living in shared accommodation, Hossein was unfortunate enough to contract COVID-19. With no family, friends or support network in the UK, he found himself suddenly i...
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Born in Afghanistan, Manmohan aged 23, had been in the UK for three years before being referred to Hope for the Young. Unable to use his arms and legs due to having quadriplegia, he requires round-the-clock care from his parents and cannot travel ...
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Agnes, aged 19, received a grant from Hope for the Young’s Education Fund to study at university. At just 4 years old, Agnes found herself in a new country, thousands of miles from her family home in The Gambia. Life in Dagenham, East London, ...
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When Lucy from Somalia first arrived in the UK at 23 years old, she was struggling to adjust to life in London. Upon arrival, she moved to Croydon yet spent most of her time at home alone, unable to explore her surroundings due to her anxiety and ...
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When Julia* came to the UK 4 years ago, aged 19, she found herself having to start all over again. Rebuilding her life and finding a new support network were challenging enough, but she then began to face huge difficulties when beginning a degree ...
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Dawit, now 17 years old, had been in the UK for just 4 months when he was matched with his mentor Alex. This is the story of their mentoring journey – the challenges they faced along the way and their remarkable achievements!
Learn MoreBeing a small charity, our supporters see directly where their money is going and how it impacts the lives of young refugees and asylum-seekers when they arrive in the UK. If you would like to discuss how to get involved please contact our CEO, Matt Blacker, at matt@hopefortheyoung.org.uk
