Knights Youth CentreAnnual Report 2010/11
Hardship and Hope
Knights Youth Centre has been working
with young people for 75 years.
In 2011 we are still providing
opportunities, role models and an open
door for young people in south London.
From London SW2 to the Dominican
Republic, Knights is making a much-
needed difference in the lives of
countless young people day in, day out.
Knights Youth CentreAnnual Report 2010/11
One. Chair’s foreword
Two. What we do
Three. T.Y.L.A.P.
The who, what, where and why of Knights
Youth Centre. You might not know us, right?
Oh, and it’s our 75th birthday.
We can tell you what TYLAP is, but we’re
guessing you’d rather hear it straight from the
horse’s mouth. One of our amazing TYLAP
graduates tells you what she thinks of the
programme.
Contents
Dealing with hardship - on the balance sheet and
on the streets. Where’s the hope coming from?
Four. A year at Knights
Five. Mission: Dominican Republic
Six. dotting the i’s
Seven. Looking ahead
Phew. So much has happened in the last year.Here’s what’s been going on in each of oursections, plus a special look at gangs and girls(yeah - girls) and how we’re helping young peoplemake the step to secondary school.
You must have heard abou
t our trip to Rwanda, righ
t? And if
you heard about that, yo
u’ll know about Romania too.
Well, this year we went to th
e Dominican Republic. Our young
people did some incredib
le stuff. Have a read about what
happened - in our words, and
those of our partener
s and friends.
Our hope for the future.
The money bit
Chris began
volunteering with
Knights in 1973 and
has been Chairman
for 23 years. In
addition to his
voluntary work, he
is a senior manager
in Children’s
Services for an
inner London
borough.
Welcome to the Knights Youth Centre annual report2010/11.
In our statement of purpose, we commit to providing an‘oasis’for young people in the area. What is an oasis? It’s aplace of refreshment and sustenance. It’s a place that isdifferent from everything around it, offering hope within ahostile environment.
Sadly, the experiences of many young people on ‘the street’today can feel hostile. For others, there seems to be adisconnect with accepted societal values and aspirations.
Since we were established back in 1936, during a period ofnational turmoil, we’ve always sought to be accepting,without prejudice, favour or stigma. We have alsochallenged young people, and never simply accepted thatthings - or behaviour - can’t get better.
So what have the Knights been doing in SW2? (the oasis)We hope this report shows the range and quality of ourservices that are designed to engage and be enjoyed, butalso to challenge.
Perhaps its this range of services that keeps young peoplecoming to us each week. It’s fun at Knights and it’s safe, butit is also offers hope - an oasis.
Chris SaundersChairman
Foreword
4
KnIghtS In numbeRS
75 the number of candles on our birthday cake this year
Our aim is to please
In the kids we believe
each one of them can achieve
As we look from a height
the future is bright
Don’t be a quitter – be a winner
We all need unite and agree that we can achieve
Whatever your circumstances there is always a chance
As a member of Knights your child will shine bright
Don’t conform to pressure – be your own person
Don’t give to receive
each session we run is shedloads of fun
From the peaks to DR our love runs far
As together we are KnIghtS YOuth CentRe!
5
This poem was
written about
Knights by
members during a
recent weekend at
Woodrow.
We thought it made
a great ‘alternative’
foreword. Enjoy.
An alternative intro...
We want to start communicating with our ‘Friends’ and
supporters more regularly.
Please help us to keep in touch with you by:
• Emailing us your name to
• ‘Liking’ us at www.facebook.com/knightsyouthcentre
What we do
What we do
Knights Youth Centre has provided a safe, fun, inclusive and
engaging place for thousands of young people since 1936. It offers
a diverse service for all young people aged 8-24 regardless of their
gender, race, religion, sexuality or disability.
Where we do it
Knights is the largest provider of youth services in and around the
Clapham Park estate in Lambeth, an area of high social and
economic need. most of our members live in the area, but the
impact of our work reaches across Lambeth.
Our members
between 150 and 200 young people visit the centre each week.
many young people attend three or four times per week.
Our service
In addition to ‘standard’ activities, we provide sports coaching,
offsite trips, regular residentials, international social action
programmes, music and video production, specialised work with
girls, arts and dance, and access to It equipment.
Crucially, we also undertake targeted outreach with young people
who, through disengagement with ‘traditional’ services, are at risk
of involvement with gangs, drugs and anti-social behaviour.
Our apprenticeships
Knights has developed an innovative youth work apprenticeship
programme called tYLAP. tYLAP provides leadership, training,
qualifications and employment opportunities for 30 young people
aged 16 – 24 in youth and community work each year.
Knights in a nutshell“Knights is clearly
integrated with the
local community. It
has a strategy
outlining what it
wants to achieve
for young people. It
can evidence how it
is making the local
community more
sustainable.
“Knights’ work
helps vulnerable
young people
discover and
develop skills,
confidence and self-
awareness. The
skills they develop
will be invaluable to
them in adult life.”
Tracey Bloomfield,
JP Morgan
7
We aim to:
• Offer a diverse range of activities and opportunities for young
people that are enjoyable, challenging and informative through
which they gain knowledge, new skills and positive experiences
• Provide a secure and caring environment where young people
who are in the transition through adolescence to adulthood
can develop self-awareness and confidence whilst developing
positive relationships with both peers and adults
• enable young people to recognise their own skills, abilities and
limitations and offer opportunities to develop these. Create
possibilities for achievement, and help young people see their
potential and the contribution they can make to society
• help young people to: recognise prejudice and discrimination
both in themselves and others; challenge prejudice and
inequality when they encounter it; value difference and
promote equality of opportunity
• encourage young people to be involved in making group
decisions and develop understanding which will help them
make responsible and informed decisions about their own lives
• Offer young people advice, support and counselling in a
nurturing environment when needed
Our aims
KnIghtS In numbeRS
5,474 the number of times young people have attended sessions this year
“The leaders at
Knights are perfect
to meet the
challenges young
people face today.
These people are
heroes. We learn
how to be good
citizens in our
communities, and
organisations like
Knights are at the
heart of them.”
Nick Wilkie,
London Youth
8
9
A Christian consciousnessWhat does it mean to be a ‘Christian’
organisation in London in 2011?
Over the last couple of years Knights has
been investigating, discussing, reflecting
and questioning the Christian ethos of
our service. this process has been a
challenge for Knights and some of the
team. It has raised questions around how
we bring our faith to our work in a more
practical and noticeable way, how we do
that whilst still being totally inclusive,
and what our funders will think.
these questions have led Knights to work
with Rev. Dr bob mayo, our youth service
director’s supervisor. bob co-authored
‘Faith of generation Y’, a book that
focuses on young people and
Christianity, and how or why Christian
youth work can make a difference.
Working with bob and other
organisations such as Livability has
encouraged us to seek new ways to raise
a Christian consciousness within Knights.
As a result, we now do the following:
• An annual ‘dedication’ of the various
teams who work within Knights at our
Woodrow weekend. this is a simple
prayer of blessing for each of the
leadership teams and the groups of
young people they work with. muslim
leaders and trainees have joined in
• encouraging team members to pray
for the young people more often
• Seeking to find a ‘sacred space’ within
Knights where young people can focus
on god
• After each session the team share in a
prayer of thanks, blessing or grace
• being transparent and bold in
acknowledging we are a Christian
organisation and that what we do and
how we do it changes lives
this approach is not seeking to ‘press
gang’ young people to become
Christians, nor would it ever look to
undermine other faiths or religions. It is
about recognising that only are faith,
hope and love core parts of the gospels,
but also our work and the commitment
that lies behind it.
Our ‘Christian consciousness’ work is
funded internally.
Knights is 75Back in 1936, just three years before the onset of World War II,
the planet faced a time of fear and upheaval.
It’s altogether different of course, but in 2011 we’re also facing a
deeply uncertain world.
Knights has lived through it all, good times and bad. thousands of
young people have passed through the centre in that time, and
hundreds of adults have given up their time to support our work
in countless ways.
thinking back through our history, it is encouraging to see how
the deep faith and vision of a few people in the late 30s has lived
on for decades, and still forms the foundation of what is now a
thoroughly modern youth centre. the people are different - and
some of the issues too - but our aims remain the same.
here’s to the next 75 years.
Five years ago we published a written history of the Knights Youth
Centre – ‘Three score years and ten’. If you would like an
electronic copy, please get in touch.
More than 100
young men and
leaders from
Knights served in
World War II.
The club was
bombed five times,
but never closed.
10
11
1936 Knights boys Club established in Clapham Park
1938 Knights, already working with 100 people every week, purchases its first
premises, 5 Streatham hill, for £2,000
1939 Outbreak of World War II. more than 100 young men and leaders from
Knights left for service, and the club was bombed five times, but the club never closes
1946 the Knights Association of Christian Youth Clubs is formed. many Knights
volunteers go on to work across the association
1952 balham, highways, Streatham hill, and Crossroads youth clubs join Knights to
create ‘Knights Youth Centre’ for the first time
1960s Knights runs a hostel project, leasing a large Victorian house and providing
affordable accommodation to young people in the area who need it most
1968 Wey Island is purchased by the Knights Association of Christian Youth Clubs.
Knights still uses the facility in Surrey today
1970s Knights works with as many young people as ever, with five football teams
playing every Saturday
1984 Knights opens its ‘Skills Wing’ to develop young people’s practical skills to
help them into employment
1990 the Inner London education Authority (ILeA) is disbanded. Knights, and youth
centres across the capital, face dramatically reduced funding. the economy doesn’t
help, either
1994 Knights produces its first ever Annual Report, and launches the concept of
‘Friends’ of the centre
1996 Knights holds its last ever colossal jumble sale, raising £5,500. the sales had
become community events, running once or twice a year since 1958
2003 Knights building reopens after four months extensive refurbishment to
upgrade the facilities, including full disability access. A lottery grant was critical
2004 Knights launches tYLAP, its youth work apprenticeship scheme
TYLAP
“TYLAP is really welcoming, like a family
at the same time as a work base. The
programme sets you on the right lines
for what you want to do in the future.
For me this involves working with young
people. I currently work for Lambeth
Youth Council as a peer educator. TYLAP
has enabled me to experience youth
work on a different level”
Adedeji, year one
What is TYLAP?the trainee Youth Leader Apprentice Programme – or tYLAP – is a
unique initiative set up by Knights to develop young people aged
16-24 into experienced, qualified youth workers.
now six years old, tYLAP has worked with over 170 trainees. the
programme has an impact across three key areas.
Employment and education routes for young people
tYLAP prioritises working with young people who are less
engaged by traditional learning or struggling with their personal
development. It aims to help young people find an easier path to
qualifications or employment, who may not otherwise get the
chance.
• A chance to explore a career in youth and community work
• Recognised qualifications in and routes to further education
• new skills and experience to support moving into employment
• Challenging, rewarding and exciting experiences
Above all, tYLAP provides a caring support network that guides
and advises - we offer housing advice, support in a crisis,
references and even food for those that need it.
ultimately, the programme leads young people towards increased
confidence, higher self esteem and a sense of purpose for the
future.
“TYLAP is like a
family. I enjoy the
ways they bring
people together –
team building
games, trips, or
other ways to get
people talking. I
hope to achieve the
Certificate in Youth
Work. I like working
with children,
putting smiles on
their faces. Knights
is where people
come to relax, it's a
second home.”
Rianna, Year 1
KnIghtS In numbeRS
170 the number of trainees tYLAP has taken on so far
14
the tYLAP programme
Year one
Work with a local youth centre as a voluntary trainee youth leader, undertake
Introductory Studies in Youth and Community Work and attend additional training
to develop new skills
Year two
employed by Knights for 24 hours per week as an apprentice youth worker. Study
for a Foundation Diploma in Youth Work, Informal education and Community
Learning. Assist in delivering Introductory Studies to trainee youth leaders
Year three
employed by Knights as a student youth worker for 12 hours per week, mentoring
and supervising trainee youth leaders. Study either for a Diploma or a Degree in
Youth and Community Work.
Recruits for the sector
tYLAP is a three year programme that produces new and dynamic
youth workers for the future.
the blend of practical and theory-based learning helps young
people develop into qualified professionals. Working in a range of
environments and organisations, tYLAP trainees develop a well-
rounded balance of skills and experience that prepares them for a
career in youth work.
Role models for other young people
Crucially, young people on the tYLAP programme become positive
role models for other young people at Knights and in the wider
community.
Working with members from similar backgrounds week-in, week-
out, tYLAP trainees set a credible example that demonstrates to
young people that they have choices and opportunities they can
feel positive about.
15
“The solutions to
many of the
challenges we face
have to be
community led.
TYLAP is fantastic.
It's the third year
I've been here -I
know you achieve
great things.
“The jewel in the
crown of this
scheme is how the
young people are
learning to lead
other young
people.”
Chuka Umunna MP
A TYLAP transformationWith the help of TYLAP, Sharna Gayle
has gone from dole office queue to
talented youth worker and career
woman. We caught up with her to hear
her story.
Sharna – tell us a bit about yourself.
How did you hear about Knights and
TYLAP?
I was sixteen, living by myself. I’d started
a college course in childcare, but decided
it wasn’t for me after six months. to be
honest I wasn’t up to much, and wasn’t
doing anything. I was on jobseeker’s
allowance and had been signing on for a
year.
being on jobseeker’s allowance isn’t
good. You feel outside of the system. I
felt like I didn’t have any support. I was
on a budget all the time, and couldn’t
live the lifestyle I wanted. If I wanted to
go to the cinema with friends, I couldn’t.
One day I went into the job centre and
saw a tYLAP leaflet. It just asked: ‘want
to get into youth work? Can you work
with young people?’ I gave them a call.
So you joined the programme?
I managed to get a place on tYLAP. to be
honest, I wasn’t sure if it was for me at
first. It was just an option, something to
do.
halfway through the first year, I realised
it was. there was a great vibe from the
people at Knights, everyone was so
welcoming. I felt like I could connect with
the young people, who had been
through the same stuff I had.
but because I hadn’t taken the first half
of the year seriously, I didn’t have the
greatest chance of getting onto the
second year of the tYLAP programme.
but the team saw something in me and
challenged me to step up if I really
wanted it. I took that chance and did the
second year – it was my first real
employment.
but, halfway through the second year, I
found out I was pregnant. I completed
the year but, because I knew I was going
to be a mum, I chose not to apply for the
third year. I continued to volunteer until I
was eight months pregnant, though.
So what did you do next?
At first, I felt like I had failed – I wouldn’t
be going to university or completing the
16
17
diploma until after I had my son. but
when he was born, I felt a rush of love
and responsibility. I had to provide a
good life for him.
I finished my diploma, and applied for
university in summer 2010. I wanted to
get back into youth work, but I wasn’t
sure I’d get the chance on tYLAP. but I
spoke with the team, did an interview,
and was given the chance on the third
year.
I was a working mum about to go to
university. I took it seriously. the tYLAP
programme is flexible. I was able to work
with tYLAP, go to university, and be a
mum. the support from michelle and Stu
at the Centre was brilliant.
What are the benefits of the TYLAP
programme?
my confidence levels were boosted. my
communications skills grew – I could
communicate with other people, not just
peers, but organisations, management.
my writing has improved. I now feel like
a professional, and have a worthy cause
in changing the community.
tYLAP also provides role models. For me,
it was good to see Karis, who came
through the tYLAP ranks. It was great to
see a young person, not much older than
me, doing something that I wanted to do
and doing well. If she had hope and
ambition, so could I.
tYLAP gives people a chance. It gave me
opportunities I thought I’d never get. I
was a bit lost in society, and never
thought I’d go to university. now I’m in
the second year of my Applied Social
Science, Youth and Community
Development degree at goldsmiths. It’s
down to tYLAP – thanks to everyone
there for all they’ve done for me.
18
Young people in the area are facing
family breakdown, a lack of money, a
lack of education, and negative
perceptions of them in the media. It’s
difficult – the quick, easy solution is
turning to the streets, forming a gang or
trying their best to live the lives of what
is shown to them by ‘the media
gangsters’.
these vulnerable people need more
education about how to be a better
person in society. School can’t do that -
it’s just lesson, leave, lesson leave. It can
feel too structured – young people often
need the space to sit back, reflect and
develop their learning, rather than being
rushed from one lesson to another.
Knights offers informal education – we
communicate with and relate to young
people on a different level.
What does the future hold?
my message to young people who have
been through what I have – go with your
dreams, your goals. think positive at all
times. Ask for support, don’t be afraid to
get help. As for me, I can’t see myself in
a career sitting behind a desk. I have so
much more to give. I’m going to continue
to try and change lives in youth work.
It takes time, and it takes consistency,
but that’s what Knights does.
Michelle on Sharna
Michelle Marquis-Brorson is Knights’ TYLAP
coordinator. She gave her view on Sharna’s
progress.
Sharna’s transformation has been incredible. She
had a huge year of growth, giving birth to a son and
going to university, and the change in her was
incredible. She’s a new woman – absolutely on fire.
She’s a fantastic mentor to young people, has fantastic maturity, understanding of
the programme and loyalty. Since she finished year three, she has worked with us
as trainee tYLAP coordinator and does a great job. She looks after the whole
project. She writes references, personal development plans for apprentices in years
one and two – everything.
She still volunteers at the centre, is a fantastic role model and someone we can
really count on. She has a great career in youth work ahead of her.
It just goes to show what can be done if you stick with people. We are so very
proud of her.
2010/11A year at Knights
Much has happened since our last Annual Report. Last year we
spoke of our challenge to climb mountains. We still have
mountains to climb but there have been some serious
overhanging rocks!
We are in challenging times. however, in recent months we have
reflected on our service, priorities and how we are doing all we
can to maximise every resource we have to make sure the young
people who benefit from our service continue to do so.
I’m not going to talk about the challenges facing young people,
the community, the country and Knights - these are pretty evident
- but it is becoming increasingly clear to me that so many of the
young people we support hold little or no hope for the future.
Knights continues on a journey that will change lives. Knights has
provided a life-changing service for the last 75 years and will
continue to do so. however, we need to be more proactive in
reaching young people.
every young person who comes into contact with us needs to be
provided with tangible hope and tough love, whilse experiencing
a spectrum of positive alternatives that will provide immediate
impact with lasting, long term benefits.
Knights certainly won’t be a place for the uncommitted.
Stu’s view: reinventing hopeStu Thomson is
Knights’ youth
service director. He
joined us in 2000.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
11 the number of years stu has been with knights: our longest serving full-timer
20
We need to do more, and we will. this will include:
• more personalised support. that could be a mentoring
programme, pastoral support and prayer (if wanted) for each
young person
• every young person knowing and feeling that they are loved
and beautiful, especially those who feel they don’t deserve it
• Improved communication with parents and carers of the young
people. this gap is widening - we need to be more proactive
and effective
• Develop our confidence further to positively address the
behaviour and lifestyles of each young person. this needs to be
linked to how a young person understands not only their
‘rights’ but also their ‘responsibilities’
• Increase our drive and passion to communicate the story of the
Christian gospel within a recognised Christian community
(where all faiths are welcome and respected)
• the development of young people on tYLAP to be more
proactive with our young people
• Finding more training and development opportunities for team
leaders to enhance their impact
• this approach will again ask our leaders and trainees to have
big hearts and be endlessly selfless. this may appear
somewhat radical from the outside but it’s been at the heart of
the KYC for the last 75 years.
We need to find beauty in the most bleak and ugly places.
We need to enable each young person to find their beauty.
We need to show love to those who feel they don’t deserve it.
I hope this resonates with you and you can support us in this.For my girls (Ros, Ella & Megan), who give me the hope to continue.
“The people at
Knights are true
visionaries, and
experts at doing
huge amounts with
limited resources.
Its people really get
to the heart of how
to influence the
lives of vulnerable
young people”
Tracey Bloomfield,
JP Morgan
21
Section update: juniorsJuniors continues to be a popular session with an average of 20
young people attending each weekly session, rising to 30 during
the school holidays. throughout the year, more young people
have been discovering Knights on the recommendation of their
friends.
We have made good use of the spells of great weather to take the
members outdoors with trips to local parks and attractions – in
addition to usual club activities like cooking, arts and crafts, sports
and games.
the team continue to build good relationships with the young
people, either one-to-one or through group work. Several
discussion sessions, often based on movies or tV shows like
eastenders, have focused attention on issues like school,
relationships, personal hygiene and other life issues.
highlights included:
• the Knights Fantastic Summer Special, funded by the Lambeth
Youth mayor Fund, which ran for the first two weeks of the
summer holidays. Our young people enjoyed a residential at
Wey Island, including canoeing, bike riding, cooking and a
barbecue; a day trip to Littlehampton; outdoor swimming at
brockwell Lido; a multi-sports and activities day at battersea
Park; a trip to London Dungeon; and a thames river boat
cruise. We also ran a special programme over the easter
holidays
Juniors is open on
Tuesday and Friday
evenings between 6
and 8pm for young
people in school
years 4-7.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
8 the number of ‘residentials’ run by Knights this year
22
• taking part in the London Youth Rowing Challenge, helping the
team to win overall and receiving prizes for their efforts
• A brilliant half-term project break for the Juniors led by the
Year 2 tYLAP team. the week of on and offsite activities
included cooking, a graffiti workshop, a trip to the Science
museum and a meal at the music bar in brixton
• A fantastic contribution from the Juniors to Knights’ Christmas
showcase, featuring artwork, t-shirt designs, dance routines
and magic tricks. Our young people received certificates for
their spendid achievements
• An activity day at Hindleap Warren for eight of our juniors,
who took on team challenges, high and low ropes, rock
climbing and an assault course
Introducing Safe T
‘Safe t’ was a targeted youth work project funded by Lambeth
Young & Safe that ran between February and April 2011. Aimed
primarily at Year six students, it worked to help young people to
make a safer transition into secondary school.
Of course, changing school can be a pretty tumultuous event. A
new uniform, a new school, can often bring with it a new identity.
Safe t looks to address some of the potential issues that come
before they come up.
We ran a series of workshops for 12 young people both from the
centre and also the local telferscot Primary School. We looked at
the differences between primary and secondary schools, the
challenges that might be ahead and how to stay safe on the
street. Along the way the workshops encouraged new
communications skills, confidence and team working.
It was great to get year seven students – again from the centre
and from a local secondary school – to come in and facilitate
discussions and share their experiences. In many ways, their
advice was of far more value than ours! We hope to run the
programme again next year.
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“I get to see my
friends and have
fun. It’s helped me
get to know other
young people who
go to my school
better and now I
can mix with them
more at school.”
Sheyann, 9
“Knights is fun
especially when we
go on trips! I don’t
get bored during
the week and I’ve
now got more
friends.”
Alex, 10
Assuring qualityAssured Quality for Youth Projects (AQYP) is a dedicated
programme managed by London Youth and validated by City and
guilds. It provides help and support for youth organisations like
ours to reach quality standards in order to:
• Achieve lasting improvements to their practice and
management
• Provide a clear structure to plan and deliver support from
London Youth to youth organisations
• Prove quality of service being delivered to young people
• have young people, their families and funders recognise the
award as a sign of excellence
AQYP has been chosen because:
• It’s straightforward
• Progressive – through bronze and silver awards to gold
• Ideal for all kinds of community-based youth work
• Designed to show how youth work meets the key every Child
matters outcomes
• We will also need to be working to or at bronze level to
maintain our affiliation to London Youth
AQYP covers six key sections. these are:
• Safeguarding of young people and staff
• Diversity, equality and inclusion
• health, safety and resources
• Young people
• Staff and volunteers
• management and administration
We are currently working on the bronze level and it is our plan to
get assessed by the end of 2011.
If you have
experience of
working on quality
assurance systems,
enjoy it, and would
like to help out,
please get it touch.
24
Knights’ community forceIn September and October 2011, voting fever hit Knights…hard.
natWest had launched their annual ‘CommunityForce’ initiative,
which rewards local charities and community projects with £6,000
grants. the twist was grants would be awarded to those local
organisations that received the most votes on the natWest
website.
Knights volunteers went into overdrive, encouraging ‘Friends’ of
the centre, family, friends and local residents to vote. After the
three week voting period ended, we had received nearly 800
votes – the second highest number of votes registered by any of
the hundreds of south London organisations competing for grants.
hot news off the press: we were delighted to hear in early
november that we earned enough votes to win a grant from
natWest. thanks to everyone that voted.
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It was a colossal effort to get hundreds of votes for the CommunityForce initiative.
While we were campaigning however, we realised that we would like to make
better use of our Facebook page to keep in touch with our Friends.
If you’re on Facebook, please ‘like’ us: www.facebook.com/knightsyouthcentre
We’ll be regularly posting updates from the centre, the latest from our tYLAP
apprentices, and images of past club life
from club alumni.
See you there!
The Three Peaks Challenge team
celebrate at the top of a mountain.
See page 34 to read more.
Girls and gangsAngela Robinson, young women’s
development worker at Knights, writes
about an old issue receiving new
attention.
You may have seen the trailer for a new
film looking at London gang life, a movie
that describes itself as an urban
retribution thriller.
the things you might expect are there:
violence, colourful language, council
estates. but there is one pretty crucial
way in which it differs from what you’re
probably imagining – the film is called
Sket, and the gang members are girls.
girls being in gangs, or at least indulging
in violent and aggressive behaviour, is
getting more attention of late. In fact,
theresa may and Iain Duncan Smith’s
new anti-gang strategy, launched in
november 2011, featured specific
proposals on the issue.
Some might find all this surprising, but to
us the idea is nothing new. In fact, many
of the girls that come through our doors
each week are just as likely to resort to
aggression or violence to resolve issues
as boys. We’ve certainly had to split up
girls fighting other girls, and girls fighting
boys.
Young women these days often feel
pressured to ‘shout loudest’ to be
noticed. there can also be fierce rivalry
between girls of similar age. many show
unshakeable confidence that they can
rely on force, even against men. Some
don’t realise how dangerous that could
be.
but while these young people might
seem incredibly confident, so often their
issues can be laid at the door of deep-
rooted self-esteem issues. Our celebrity
culture, and tabloid perceptions of
youth, can also chip away at self-worth.
unchecked, a desire for acceptance can
lead to some unhealthy ways of
interacting with others, including boys,
and is one potential driver of
involvement in gangs or other anti-social
behaviour. It can also lead to girls losing
any sense of the potential consequences
of their actions, or how their actions
could affect their reputation. At Knights
we try and break down these issues, and
having an all girls group is an important
part of that.
28
unlike boys, girls are sometimes less
likely to be direct about what they think
and feel. they can be more subtle.
unfortunately this means that important
issues can sometimes be less noticeable,
and it can be more difficult to get to the
heart of what’s causing them.
but we do what we can to strike up
relationships, and that takes time.
Running girls-only sessions allows us to
address things from a female
perspective. Our girls @ Knights leaders
‘man mark’ individual girls, ensuring that
there’s always someone looking to catch-
up with our members each week. We run
a mixture of group and one-to-one
sessions, and keep girls who can’t get on
separate when it’s needed.
We see everyone as a beautiful person,
and do what we can to reinforce that
with the young people we work with. We
also encourage each of the girls to be a
positive influence on their friends,
talking to them and taking a personal
responsibility for them.
We do see negative behaviour from girls
in the area, and there are definitely girls
who have affiliations with gangs. but if
we continue to challenge their
perceptions, thoughts and actions, show
viable alternatives, demonstrate worth
and offer positive role models, we can
channel their energy into something
positive.
You can read more about our regular
Girls @ Knights programme on page 28.
29
Four Girls @ Knights, not gang members!
Section update: intersIt’s been a strong year for Inters, with good growth in the
number of young people attending, especially girls. Members
are growing more open to sharing and accepting our support
because of the work of our young, vibrant and talented
leadership team.
highlights included:
• An educational and fun weekend with Urban Nature at
Hindleap
• Five young men completing the national Three Peaks
Challenge
• three first class young men serving the poor in the Dominican
Republic
• A crazy weekend of camping on the south coast
• A groundworks-led series of sessions based on community
involvement that resulted in our funky new mural on the
building. groundworks is funded by Young & Safe
• A number of fun offsite trips to a range of places from the
West end to box hill
• An ongoing programme of Mentivation workshops
Inters is open on
Monday and
Wednesday
evenings between 7
and 9pm for young
people in school
years 8-10.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
5 the number of young people who we supported at court appearances this year
30
Asked to sum up Knights in two words, Junior, 14, said:
‘fun, educational’.
to describe the staff team at Knights, he said:
‘always there, caring’.
Leading in the community
31
Knights Senior Youth Worker Stu Thomson has been the elected
Vice Chair of the Lambeth Community and Voluntary Sector
(VCS) Children and Young People’s Forum for two years. This role
provides mutual benefits for the Forum, Lambeth Council and
Knights. Here’s what it’s all about.
the Forum influences the way services are delivered to young
people in Lambeth. It does this by:
• Advising on proposed strategic developments
• Consulting on specific issues
• Feeding back on the success of new initiatives
• Driving the agenda on effective partnership working
the Forum is open to all VCS organisations actively working with
children and young people across Lambeth. It is led by elected
VCS representatives who also sit on the Children’s trust board. It
meets six times a year, but its members stay in regular contact
with each other and form special interest groups where specific
action is needed.
the Forum aims to:
1. Act as a consultative body in the formulation of partnership
strategy and policy regarding services for children and young
people
2. Provide representatives to sit on the Children’s trust board,
Local Safeguarding Children’s board, themed sub-groups and
joint commissioning groups
3. Capacity build for the VCS
4. Offer training and networking for the VCS
5. Achieve two-way communication between the VCS and the
Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
“We each have a
lot to offer, to help
shape policy, to
improve children's
lives, to help each
other”
Jackie Nunns, chair,
VCS Forum
Section update: seniorsThere has been a great record of young people re-engaging with
education this year in seniors, and positive responses to the
work carried out through Mentivation and our RE:INVEST
programme.
highlights included:
• Reduction in aggressive and negative behaviour and a huge
increase in the young people taking responsibility for
managing each other’s conduct
• enthusiastic involvement and productivity with Rolling Sound,
who provided a music production course funded through
Young & Safe
• two young people winning Jack Petchey Foundation
Achievement Awards
• helen morrell, a volunteer with Seniors, being awarded a Jack
Petchey Foundation Leaders Award
• Condoms being distributed on a regular basis alongside advice
and guidance on sexual health
• A leadership team growing in confidence, ability and creativity
Seniors is open on
Thursdays between
7.30 and 10.30pm
for young people in
school year 11 and
upwards.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
322 the number of onsite evening sessions delivered this year
32
Asked to sum up Knights in a word, Dwayne, 14, simply said: ‘experience’.
to describe the best thing about the staff team at Knights, headded: ‘helping with homework’.
Asked what he’d like more of at Knights, he said:‘educational programmes. help with literacy and numeracy’.
London’s heroesLondon Youth is a vibrant network of 400
youth organisations across every
neighbourhood in London that exists to help
young people be all they can be, whether
through youth action, youth work training or
tackling youth crime.
London Youth has had a relationship with
Knights for many years. We caught up with
nick Wilkie, London Youth chief executive, for
a quick word.
What are your thoughts on the importance
of youth work in 2011?
It’s a really hard, difficult time – we’ve all read
about the difficult economic climate, and how
it’s putting a squeeze on charitable
organisations. We’ve also all read about the
riots, and other reports on how young people
feeling alienated from our society. It’s not
going to get any easier, quickly. One in ten
young people in London have no
qualifications.
Of course, the skill and commitment of youth
workers – like those at Knights – is even more
important against this backdrop. the truth is
that good youth work works.
What role do youth centres play alongside
other services?
Organisations working with young people are
under increasing pressure and clearly need
more support. but no organisation offers the
whole solution.
I’d say the skills and lessons that we need to
learn for adult life aren’t all found in the
classroom. they often come from our
families, or from being a part of something.
Schools can’t shoulder the burden on their
own, and education can’t start and stop with
academia. After all, young people only spend
14 per cent of waking hours in school. Youth
work is an invaluable part of the mix.
The riots have had a lot of airtime…
Of course, few could say that the riots we saw
across the capital and elsewhere aren’t
related to wider issues around young people.
but causality is complex.
the mossbourne Academy, for example, is a
brilliant, brilliant school, but sits near the
Pembury estate where we saw the highest
activity in the riots. this isn’t a
straightforward issue, but it is clear that the
role of youth centres is as relevant as ever.
What’s the secret of survival for youth clubs
like Knights?
Well, at the moment it may well come down
to scrapping for every penny, and being
resilient. but the leaders at Knights are
perfect to meet this challenge. these people
are heroes. And we should be thankful - we
learn how to be good citizens in our
communities, and organisations like Knights
are at the heart of them.
33
Community renaissanceJ.P. Morgan partnered with Knights Youth Centre in 2010,specifically providing a grant for the expansion of the RE:INVESTprogramme. We spoke with Tracey Bloomfield, Vice PresidentEMEA Corporate Philanthropy & Sponsorship, to discuss thesuccesses of the partnership.
J.P. morgan has been investing significant time, attention, andfinancial support in the London borough of Lambeth, identified asthe targeted area for the firm’s ‘Community Renaissance’programme. this programme brings together local communities,businesses, voluntary groups, and the public sector to partner inan integrated way to deliver positive social change in thecommunity. this innovative approach has been recognised ashaving the potential to help “transform communities' in therecently launched Child Poverty Strategy, which sits alongside thegovernment’s broader strategy to improve social mobility.
We’ve decided to work in Lambeth because we believe we have aresponsibility to make our local communities more sustainable.We’re a large organisation, and we need to be responsive towhat’s going on in the communities in which we have a presence.through our philanthropic programming we have the power to dogood – for our clients, for our employees, and for people andcommunities around the world. It is important to our employeesthat we visibly demonstrate our contribution as a good corporatecitizen to the wider community.
J.P. morgan’s approach to philanthropic giving goes beyond solefinancial support. It is about sharing knowledge and skills, poolingideas and inspirations, and working together with both thecharitable sector and central/local government to identify andsupport transformative programmes and innovations. Ourcurrent philanthropic portfolio includes partnerships withorganisations who are strategically addressing worklessness. We
We woud like to
offer a big thank
you to JP Morgan
for their generous
funding that has
underpinned much
of our work over
the last eighteen
months.
34
seek to partner with organisations who are working towardstackling this issue in a sustainable and impactful way; ourobjective is to look at holistic ways of approaching both currentand future unemployment.
We decided to partner with Knights, specifically funding theRe:InVeSt programme because the work met all our criteria.having been established in 1936, Knights is clearly integrated withthe local community. It has an identifiable strategy outliningwhere it wants to go and what it wants to achieve for the youngpeople it supports. It can provide evidence to show how it ismaking the local community more sustainable. In working toprevent the alienation of young people, or the growth of gangculture, there is huge value in empowering young people to helpothers. Re:InVeSt, the tYLAP programme and the volunteeringprojects that have taken young people to Romania, Rwanda andmost recently the Dominican Republic are great examples of this.
Knights’ work helps vulnerable young people discover anddevelop skills, confidence and self-awareness. giving themopportunities to become more globally aware and understandhow they can personally make a difference is such powerful work.the skills they develop will be invaluable to them in adult life.
We support the Knights vision of providing a learning and supportcentre for young people. We recognise that they are experts atutilising their limited resources in a meaningful way. theorganisation truly understands the heart of how to influence thelives of vulnerable young people. We are delighted to partnerwith Knights in the development of the Re:InVeSt programme.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
19 the number of Certificate in Youth Work training sessions delivered this year
35
Girls @ KnightsGirls @ Knights sessions have continued throughout the year
with a variety of activities including cooking, arts and crafts,
fashion, beauty, dance, discussion and debate. Promisingly,
there has been an overall improvement in the girls’ behaviour
and attitudes – testament to the excellent relationships
established by the team.
highlights included:
• Running joint sessions with Inters to provide a different social
dynamic and an opportunity to work on their interpersonal
skills
• A girls-only residential weekend organised by Clubs for Young
People and held at PgL grantham. eight girls attended, taking
part in cheerleading, boxing, fashion workshops and plenty
more
• girls @ Knights’ very own photoshoot. britain’s next top
model better watch out! It was a great opportunity for
members not only to dress up and experiment with make-up
techniques, but also to discover more about how each of them
view themselves and their friends through photography
• Cooking and eating out together. these experiences have
helped the girls develop their cooking skills and try new foods.
It has also helped the team to buid relationships, having
deeper conversations and bonding time. Several issues have
been highlighted over a bite to eat that have subsequently
been addressed in group or one-to-one sessions
• the young girls took over and became the youth workers for
Girls @ Knights is
open between 6
and 8pm on
Wednesdays for
young women in
school years 6-11.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
1 the number of films focusing on girls in gangs released this year
36
“I come to KYC so I
can stay of the
street – it’s safe
and there’s good
company and good
activtities. I like
Girls @ Knights as it
gives us a chance to
hang out.”
Keisha, 13
an evening in July 2011. they ran a cooking session, planning
the menu and budget, shopping for ingredients and cooking a
meal for the staff
• Recording monthly video diaries over the year to track the
development of their thoughts and ideas
• One-to-one sessions, which remain an important part of what
we do, either during weekly girls @ Knights sessions or at
other arranged times. each staff member has been assigned
specific girls to meet with on a regular basis. Although the
meetings are very informal, the team have been able to build
on their relationships with the girls and support them on
various issues
“I like the youth
club because it’s
fun, keeps me
active when I have
nothing to do. Girls
@ Knights is like a
big family and it’s
an experience for
all of us to have!”
Chyna, 13
37
Knights ontour
Raisin’ D RepublicIn the autumn of 2010, with the
financial support of JP Morgan and as
part of the RE:INVEST programme, the
visionary and ambitious folks at Knights
kicked in to gear. The plan was simple:
recruit a team to raise funds by
completing a national endurance event
and go overseas to serve the poorest of
the poor. Easy, right?
this would be the third project of its kind
delivered by Knights since 2007: the first
two saw us take in Rwanda and Romania.
In January 2011 we recruited a team of
young people and workers to participate
in Raisin D Republic, this year’s
challenge. It consisted of two stages.
national three Peaks challenge
the three Peaks Challenge team Lucy,
Kedeesha, Sharna, Karis, travis, Leval,
Ziggy, Jamarie, Callum, Daniel, Shem,
David, Paul and Stu (plus mountain
instructors, drivers and chefs from
hindleap Warren and our own Angela).
the challenge: reach the summits of ben
nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon in three
days. After just a couple of training
sessions on the north Downs, the team
gathered at dawn on April 28th and
started the journey north to Fort
William. this would be tough.
the team was immense. everyone
conquered ben nevis and Scarfell Pike.
Only Kedeesha was unable to complete
Snowdon as she had fallen ill. the team
shared, supported and encouraged each
other, carrying each other’s backpacks.
they laughed, cried and got each other
through it. We were blessed with perfect
weather and majestic views at each
summit.
Dominican Republic
three months after completing the three
Peaks in some style, the team flew out to
the Dominican Republic to support
projects working with poor communities
for two weeks. the experience was
delivered by mission Direct.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
3,333 the number of metres climbed during the three peaks challenge
39
Raisin’ D Republic
isn’t the first
project of its kind
for Knights - back in
2007 we took a
team of young
people to Rwanda,
and in 2009 we
visited Romania.
At the last minute sadly Daniel, Jamarie and Callum couldn’t make
it, but Symon and nat stepped up to the call.
Whilst in the Dominican Republic, we:
• Painted house window frames, shutters and doors
• Shovelled mud and hard core for building foundations, and
mixed and shovelled cement to lie on top of the hard core
• Wheel barrowed the mud, hard core and cement up and down
hills to be deposited in various houses
• Led on games, sports and activities such as face painting with
local children in two villages
• Visited two orphanages for severely disabled children
• Visited a local hospital that cares for people who can’t afford
mainstream healthcare. the team talked and prayed with
patients, and handed out ‘goodie hygiene bags’
• hand-delivered food and drink to feed 150 families in a local
village, and 300 children in two different locations
KnIghtS In numbeRS
4 the number of families moved to clean, safe houses in the Dominican Republic
40
• A number of the team personally committed to financially
supporting a number of children through school for a year
• Visited a project called Aqua negras (black Water) and the
locals. Aqua negras get its name from the sewage that runs
through its streets
• Prepped, sanded and painted a large workshop inside and out
which had been built to train locals in basic carpentry and
building skills
• Attended a ‘church in the woods’ service, leading songs in
english, Spanish and Creole
• tore down the old shacks of the families who were provided
with new permanent homes
• Visited two local schools to find out how they educate children
and to provide encouragement
We managed to take some time off too, using the time to take a
couple of excursions, chill by the pool, go on banana boat rides
and sample the local produce! the team deserved it.
41
Stu Thomson’s personal reflection
As team leader, these trips are defined by the team’s outputs and
the positive experiences of both the team members and those we
went to serve. the focus is therefore to make sure not only that
the team have a brilliant experience, but also that they give all
they can.
but against any measure this trip was excellent, and it was
excellent for a number of reasons:
• the preparation and experience of the two key partners
mission Direct and the Samaritan trust
• the level of tried and tested methods and programmes by the
crew on the ground
• A great team. not only were there the 13 from Knights, but
also another two families and two single people involved in this
two week project. It was refreshing to see the entire team gel
and respond positively to each other
• each member of the Knights team was immense. each one had
moments of pure quality and humility. this was especially
evident when the team had to be very personable with the
locals in the villages, hospitals and orphanages
• the Knights team made a special effort to look out for each
other but also give each other space when needed
• everyone was able to bounce back and put pettiness or
potential conflict to one side
• As the young people would say: ‘it was da belly’
42
Raisin’ D Republic - not ALL hard work...
A mission... for potential
KnIghtS In numbeRS
7 the number of new partnerships created this year - thanks
Mission Direct supports locally-led
projects to help some of the world’s
poorest people. It leads life-changing
trips for people who want to make a
difference. Tim Martindale, director of
overseas operations for Mission Direct,
talks through his experiences with
Knights in the Dominican Republic.
historically mission Direct hasn’t
typically worked with organisations like
Knights - we normally work with
individuals or families. but when Stu
thomson got in touch to talk about
taking 12-15 young people on a trip with
us as part of their leadership training, we
were happy to do it as the centre’s ethics
fit with ours.
Our primary objective is usually about
working to help the people in the
poverty-stricken communities that we
operate in overseas. but working with
Knights, and another youth group in
Leeds, has helped us to realise the other
transformative impact these trips can
have.
Working with the Knights group side by
side in the Dominican Republic, I was so
inspired by the value of the trip to each
of them. the way they threw themselves
into it at 100 per cent was incredible.
I was particularly inspired by a visit to an
orphanage for disabled children. this
was a totally new environment for the
young people from Knights. they were
perhaps a little hesitant at first, but
within two minutes they were all
involved, even the ‘tough guys’. they
were in there, feeding, cleaning and
entertaining the kids, showing
remarkable maturity as they interacted
with them.
At the end of the visit, the two ‘tough
guys’ didn’t want to leave. It was a
touching moment.
In my view, the key thing that makes this
a transformative experience is that, in
these environments, they were all put
into the position of being a role model.
they were celebs and mentors, having
44
the opportunity to show leadership if
they had it in them.
being surrounded by people who were
so destitute, and people who were so
pleased to see them, gave them the
feeling that they weren’t just there to
learn, to do what they were told. they
were challenged to make a contribution,
and were empowered to do something
to make a difference. they received huge
thanks when they did.
I imagine that in their day-to-day lives
these young people don’t often get to
feel like that. they probably feel quite
negative about society, and don’t feel
much love from it.
but this experience gave them an
entirely new cultural world view. being
away from home and among people less
well off than themselves, they stepped
right out of their everyday experience.
getting away from peer group pressure
provided an opportunity to open up and
to try new things.
And that’s what was at the heart of it.
here were young people that might be
on the margins of things at home. but by
the time the Dominican Republic trip was
over they had found new skills, self-belief
and understanding of how they can make
a difference. they had found new
relationships, too.
I very much enjoyed working alongside
the group from Knights and, of course,
Stu, who is a fantastic leader. We need
people of his calibre working with young
people. mission Direct is delighted to
have played a part in releasing new
potential for these wonderful young
people.
45
To DR and beyondLuca Bosatta came across Knights when he and his family were
paired with us on their trip to the Dominican Republic. Luca
wrote about the experience.
In preparing for our trip to the Dominican Republic, we asked the
organisers who would be joining us. We were told it would be a
group from a youth centre in south London. good, interesting, we
thought.
And so it proved.
the work you do on trips like this one, the things you see, can
have a huge impact. to share the experience with others makes it
all the more significant. We had a really good time with the group
from Knights, and really got to know them.
I was so impressed with the group. I expect many of them came
back to the uK more mature people. but it was them as
individuals that I found most impressive. As I spoke to them, all
prejudices were broken down as I saw the wit, intelligence, depth
and poetry of these people.
It was fantastic to learn what wonderful people they are, and
what fantastic potential they have, despite the difficulties they
face back at home. having got to know them, we felt we could ask
about those difficulties. What they told us was in their own
words. Aspirations at school. Violence. Fear.
So many times on the trip, the trainees were called upon to step
up, to make a difference. none of them flinched, they all came
through. Perhaps most encouraging however, was how they
We would like to
thank Luca and his
family for playing
such an important
and enjoyable part
of our trip.
46
talked about being involved in youth work. they were clearly
proud of working to help others. they talked positively about
plans for the future and applying for the next year of the
programme.
We – including my three teenage children, who shared hugs and
tears with the Knights apprentices when it was time to go home –
thoroughly enjoyed their company.
Weeks after the Dominican Republic trip, I joined the Knights
team and all the apprentices for a discussion and development
weekend. I was keen to find out what goes on outside of the big
trips. maybe the Dominican Republic was a one off?
but once again, I was bowled over. Joining in with workshops, I
saw the apprentices greet tasks with enthusiasm and ability.
I was really taken by Stu thomson’s leadership, which really
demonstrated the power and potential of good youth work. Stu is
a pro, expertly taking opportunities to give the apprentices
specific feedback. he is very encouraging, but always with
constructive, genuine and meaningful praise.
‘this is what I saw in you today’, was one such comment. ‘this
was a wonderful thing you did’, was another. It seemed to be
about affirming and encouraging real strengths and talents in the
young people.
to one apprentice, the comment was ‘I saw the real man in you
today’. It was absolutely spot on, and I don’t think that young man
will ever forget it. Perhaps he doesn’t get that kind of
encouragement normally, that kind of positive statement about
who he is. It was maybe even more impressive to see his peers
nodding in supportive agreement. I think he was moved.
What great work. Some of the transformations Knights achieves –
whether on the tYLAP programme or with members attending
normal sessions – seem impossible in the face of the news we see
on our tV screens every day. I witnessed so much potential.
We’re very thankful
for the commitment
and interest Luca
has shown in
Knights.
Luca has asked Stu
and one of the
apprentices to
deliver a talk at his
office to members
of a ‘family
network’ that
promotes family
values for business
benefit. He has also
offered to act as a
mentor for one of
the TYLAP
apprentices.
KnIghtS In numbeRS
776 online votes received by Knights for natWest’s CommunityForce campaign
47
Accounts
Income
expenditure
In 1938, Knights bought its first permanent premises for £2,000. In
1999 our annual expenditure was £35,000. But, after sustained
growth in the range of services we offer young people in the area and
the establishment of the unique TYLAP initiative, we are a very
different youth centre today.
As you’ve read, the world in which we
operate is increasingly challenging, with
far reaching implications. We enjoyed a
surplus at the end of the last financial
year (2009/10), but all funds carried
over were already tied up in projects
and commitments for 2010/11.
Sadly, the Hardship Fund grant we were
given in 2009 has gone. In addition, the
three year grant from Lambeth Council
to fund the girls @ Knights and Senior
Outreach Project Worker posts
technically came to an end last April.
Despite intentions to commission new
posts by that date, we are still awaiting
the outcome of Lambeth’s review. It is a
difficult time for all London councils, but
their support is paramount.
the result? We currently have a £40,000
hole in our budget, net of the surplus we
carried forwards. this was initially over
£80,000, leading to us having to let two
members of staff go as of 1st April this
year. In turn, it also meant that Stu’s
planned new role – mentioned in last
year’s report – has been ‘put on ice’.
With significant loss of income, it goes
without saying that we are making
increased and significant efforts to cut
costs, raise funds and submit new bids.
Sadly, we are competing for a smaller
portion of a smaller cake, and against
more and more other diners. We also
failed with bids submitted to BBC
Children in Need and the Big Lottery.
We have just enough reserves to
maintain current service levels until
march 2012. If we don’t find new funds
by then, we will have to make some
tough decisions, and the service we
provide will look very different.
It’s not all doom and gloom – we
continue to receive remarkable support.
the Walcot Foundation continues to
support the Walcot Apprenticeship
Scheme and tYLAP. they are great and
much-appreciated supporters.
JP Morgan gave us a huge grant of
£95,000 for a number of projects
including the trip to the Dominican
Republic – see our report on page 38.
this has been fantastic support that has
had a huge impact on our young people.
In addition, the Henry Smith Foundation
and Equitable Charitable Trust provided
new grants. We also received grants from
other partners including: Home Office
RIO; Lloyds TSB, Mercers; NHS; Elizabeth
and Prince Zaiger Trust; International
Bazaar; Jack Petchey Foundation; and
Clapham Park.
We live in troubled times – both on the
balance sheet and the streets. but this is
when young people need us most. We
would like to take this opportunity to
thank the many organisations and
individuals who have supported us over
the last year. hopefully this report
conveys the huge and ambitious range of
services Knights continues to provide
young people. Without your support, it
would not be possible.
49
It will come as no surprise to anyone that as a result of the
deepening financial crisis, the voluntary sector is really going to
feel the pinch. Small organisations will be particularly vulnerable
– that includes us at Knights!
It’s hard not to become obsessed with the financial climate, but
there’s one critical point I’d like to make: the secret of our success
is the experience and heart our team brings to the work. We have
a small hub of paid staff who are pivotal in their role to develop
and direct our wonderful volunteers, and our street savvy
trainees/apprentices (aged 16-24). If funding pressures were to
cause us to lose that hub, then our successful (and cost effective)
model of delivering our service would be at serious risk.
there can be no doubt that, as a small voluntary youth centre, we
face a bleak and worrying financial situation, and there’s no sign
that it will change much for the next three years. We experienced
a similar environment in the early 1990s and saw some
longstanding youth clubs in the area close, never to reopen.
We have to plan carefully for some lean years. We will refocus on
what we do well: building relationships, being available,
consistent and offering hope.
Our main offer has always been our heart and passion for every
young person who walks through our door.
We are here because we want to be. Interestingly, that’s what
young people seem to want and respect!
We celebrated our 75th anniversary this year, and we
Looking ahead
50
have no intention of this financial crisis being the point at which
we close our doors. but it is going to be really, really hard.
this report has documented so many highs from the last year,
from volunteering in the Dominican Republic and Sharna’s
success to our work with young women and our young people
winning awards.
be assured we’ll be writing to you next year with another
selection of similar stories.
thanks, as always, for your wonderful support.
God bless.
Chris Saunders
We would love to hear from you.
Telephone
020 8674 4055
Post
27 Streatham Place, London SW2 4QQ
Online
www.knightsyouthcentre.org.uk
www.facebook.com/knightsyouthcentre
Registered charity number 303282