It’s been a busy year for the team at St James and St William, since selecting Streets of Growth as their Community Partner charity.
Based in Tower Hamlets, Streets of Growth is a unique and dynamic youth outreach and targeted intervention charity that seeks to re-engage at-risk and vulnerable young adults aged between 15 – 25. They bring together lifestyle, environment, education and career progression to support transformative change and build positive mindsets and resilience.
Throughout the first year of the partnership, St James St William has been committed to building a proactive, trusting and responsive relationship with the Streets of Growth team. They have provided direct support to young people by hosting a site tour and careers insight at the Bethnal Green site, supporting holiday workshops and award evenings.
Staff have also had fun and got involved through fundraising events including a ‘Gin Night with Fernando’ (whose true identity shall remain a secret…) and a Soak your Colleague event. 18 runners are also taking part in The Big Half in August!
The funds raised this year have supported Streets of Growth's work, including the Inspire Young Women programme which provides essential resources for young girls and women who have experienced sexual and criminal exploitation, abuse, and violence. The funds have also been used to provide vouchers for young people to purchase necessary items for school and job interviews. It’s also enabled Streets of Growth to offer more one-on-one mentoring sessions, giving young people a safe space to be heard, listened to, and work through their trauma.
Diane Peters, CEO at Streets of Growth, reflects:
"The first year of our charity partnership with St William and St James has been transformative for the young people and families we serve. This collaboration has significantly increased access to opportunities, providing mentorship, skills training, and employment for those young people facing barriers such as hidden young carers and young people experiencing exploitation and violence. Together, in this partnership we have improved vulnerable young people’s quality of life and contributed to the economic and social well-being of our young communities in Tower Hamlets. We are grateful for the unwavering support and dedication of St William and St James teams, and we look forward to working in partnership and achieving even greater milestones in the coming year."
There are plenty of ways to get involved with volunteering for the Streets of Growth summer programme, including assisting at eco fashion workshops, or supporting at exhibition events, career talks and CV workshops. Visit the Berkeley Foundation Volunteering Hub for more information.
And did you know that Streets of Growth run a t-shirt printing social enterprise that upskills young people in business management? Having already fulfilled orders for a number of Berkeley businesses, Streets of Growth can meet your bespoke merchandise needs! Please contact Brooke.Johnson@berkeleygroup.co.uk for more information. Streets of Growth will have you covered. Literally.