For those who have been out of work for an extended period, finding the motivation to re-enter the job market can be a daunting challenge. Weeks turn into months, and the barriers to employment only seem to grow.
One beacon of hope is Street Elite. This innovative sport and mentoring programme, developed through a partnership between Berkeley Foundation and The Change Foundation, has been changing lives for the past 13 years.
The initiative targets small groups of long-term unemployed young people, who have stopped actively seeking work. Over nine months, Street Elite uses sport and mentoring to enhance participants’ skills and discipline, and help them prepare for work.
Uniquely, the programme is delivered by coaches who have either been through Street Elite themselves or have lived experience of the challenges facing the young people.
Yvette Santana, one of the coaches explains:
"We work with people who face real challenges in getting back into work or education. They may have caring responsibilities, struggle with mental health issues, had negative experiences at school or not have the funds to travel to job interviews. At the most extreme end, they may have been involved with criminal activity."
Tammy, one of the participants on the programme, said:
"Just in the short few months of joining the programme my self-esteem and motivation has sky rocketed. I was lost and thought my life was over, but with each opportunity and each session I have grown in confidence."
The programme culminates in a one-day festival for local school children, where they get the chance to try their hand at a range of different sports. The Street Elite graduates help to deliver the sports sessions, demonstrating some of the skills they’ve developed during the programme. The graduates also receive a certificate to celebrate their achievements on Street Elite.
Lambeth
The Lambeth cohorts welcomed children from Henry Fawcett Primary School to Kennington Park, where they took part in sports like boxing, dodgeball and golf. The Street Elite graduates, of which many are young mums or soon-to-be mums, were presented with their certificate by Florence Eshalomi, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green.
Birmingham
A group of 26 young people from Birmingham helped deliver the festival for 200 local school children at the impressive Alexander Stadium. Track racing, tennis and street dance were among the sports to try, and there was even a smoothie bike to keep the children hydrated!
Ealing
Held again at Berkeley’s The Green Quarter development, the cohort delivered sessions including yoga, zorbing and padel tennis – making use of the brand new padel courts at The Green Quarter.
Outgoing MP for Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma, attended the event and awarded the certificates.
Alex Feldman, Deputy Headteacher at Dairy Meadow School, took part in the festival with his Year 4 pupils:
“A huge part of primary teaching is inspiring the next generation to be fearless in their ambitions for the future. At Dairy Meadow we want all children to be able to believe they can be anything they want regardless of: colour, creed, religion or gender. The Street Elite festival has opened our Year 4’s eyes to sports that they may never have considered trying before. A 20-minute session of yoga may ignite a lifelong passion that can set a learner on a lifetime of discovery, meeting new people and possibly experiencing new cultures on the way.”
Berkeley Group is offering each Street Elite graduate a work placement at one of their sites, providing hands-on construction experience and opening doors to further training and employment opportunities.
Sally Dickinson, Head of the Berkeley Foundation, remarks:
"We've partnered with Street Elite for over a decade because it delivers long-term impact. This isn’t a two-week programme; it’s nine months of sustained, meaningful change."
Street Elite has reached 800 individuals over the past 12 years, with an impressive 80% of participants moving on into education, employment or training.
