This blog post is the fourth in a seven part series about working with young, unemployed people impacted by crime, violence and inequality. It explores how we can improve the way we support them into long-term, sustainable work or further education. We talk about the approach used in our training for work initiative, Street Elite, which has so far helped over 600 disengaged young people to find a job or place in college. It is delivered as a collaboration between The Change Foundation and the Berkeley Foundation.
This series is written by the people who deliver the youth programmes, using their direct lived experience over the last ten years, as well as interviews with participants and coaches.
By Anna Heslop, Communications Manager, The Change Foundation
In the UK, around 13,000 women experience motherhood before their 18th birthday. The Street Elite programme actively engages with a number of young people who are mothers, navigating the joy, challenges and complexities of early motherhood and adolescence. In 2023, Street Elite welcomed 11 mothers or soon-to-be mothers into its Lambeth cohort.
Sharing their experiences
“I fell pregnant when I was 18 and I was devastated. I knew I would deal with it without the father's support and felt in such a low space.”
“I was 17 when I had my first son. It was a big shock when I found out because I was already six months pregnant. At six months you can’t terminate a pregnancy and it felt like I’d had the choice torn away from me. I was scared and I was underprepared.”
How Does Street Elite Provide Support?
We provide on-site nursery care, allowing the mothers to bring their children to weekly sport and wellbeing sessions. Our experience and research tell us that mothers under 20 often experience higher rates of poor mental health in the years after giving birth. Therefore, Coach Mentors initiate targeted conversations around mental health and wellness each week. For some, these conversations were a first.
"In my culture, mental health is a topic rarely spoken about. Having these coaches guide me on taking time for myself and discussing my anxiety and emotions has been a game-changer. I can now recognise when I'm struggling and how it impacts my kids, something I couldn't do before."
In addition to conversations about mental health, free childcare gives the mothers an hour each week to prioritise themselves by improving their physical health and self-confidence.
Improving Fitness and Wellbeing
"Before Street Elite, I hadn't engaged in any serious fitness for over a year. I had lost confidence in my body image and my physical capabilities. Exercising, sweating and sharing jokes with other women and mothers like me made me feel empowered. When you're not accustomed to the social exercise environment, it feels like a safe haven."
For some of the mothers, financial limitations and a lack of time were primary factors for them not being able to do regular physical exercise.
"My baby-father lives in Jamaica so my children and me are on our own. The cost of living has been hard. I rely on electric cards for everything, from cooking to bathing my kids, washing our clothes, and keeping their tablets charged to get a moment's rest. I'm in constant anxiety about running out of credit, so there's little room to spend on activities like sports."
With the Street Elite coaching, free childcare, weekly session travel and subsistence expenses (£20) and 1-1 mentor sessions, the mothers found a space that allowed them to exercise (for the first time since giving birth for some) and prioritise their health. In addition, the social engagement between mothers allowed them to build friendships with other women experiencing the challenges of being young. This was something that wasn’t possible in prenatal groups due to differences in age, relationships with fathers and financial stability.
"Connecting with pregnant women in my prenatal groups wasn't possible because of the difference in our age and circumstances. But these mums from Street Elite come to my kids' parties and give me a support network. Plus, I've learned to take mental wellness walks to help me cope with stress which I didn’t do before.”
"The women at Street Elite can truly relate to me, and I've formed lasting friendships that go beyond the programme."
As we reflect on the experiences of these incredible women, we’re reminded that Street Elite provides more than access to sports. Its weekly sessions act as a foundation for young people to find stability and improve their lives. This is especially meaningful for mothers who have been able to find a new routine for their own self-care, improve their relationships with their children, and bravely share their feelings and experiences of being a mother with others that relate to them and don’t judge them.