The University of East London (UEL) is engaging with the local community by empowering and motivating young people through the Youth Charter charity.
The Youth Charter is a charity and United Nations non-governmental organisation set up to tackle low educational attainment, inequalities and the damaging effects of gang-related crime through a multifaceted approach in conjunction with public and private sector agencies with similar interests and goals.
Founded and directed by Geoff Thompson (UEL Chair of Board of Governors) and wife Janice Thompson, the charity has been running for 26 years and has recently made the move from Manchester down to Stratford in East London.
At a recent meeting Thompson said, “I will not give up on young people. If we give up on them, they give up on us, and we might as well give up on society”.
The Youth Charter recently held a ‘social-coaching programme workshop’ for students at UEL attended by over 300 people who are willing to give up two hours a week to act as a ‘social coach’ in the community.
Social coaches act as mentors to young people, offering free advice and guidance, and a listening ear. The Youth Charter has a network of facilities which young people can visit safely to develop their professional and personal skills.
The Youth Charter was initially founded after a teenager named Benji Stanley was killed on the streets of Moss Side in Manchester. This struck a chord with Geoff Thompson who from that day onwards pledged to help take young people off the streets and give them something better to do with their time through sports, arts and cultural activity.