Since 2019...
Spark2Life has worked with mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units in London, Essex, and Kent to deliver prevention programmes for children and young people (11-17 years) who are at risk of exclusion or have experience of involvement in the criminal justice system. We deliver mentoring programmes, workshops and assembly sessions.
Read our Early Prevention brochure here
Have a look below for more info on our early prevention work or drop us an email to find out more!
Feedback from professionals & lives touched
Joshua
Before Spark2Life’s Support
Joshua was well-known in their borough, largely due to their older sibling’s high-profile gang involvement and Joshua’s own connections to another local gang. This notoriety made them a frequent target for violence. At the start of the academic year, Joshua was stabbed by a rival gang member minutes after leaving their Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). Later that same month, the same gang chased Joshua while they were walking home from school with friends.
Following these incidents, professionals within the Local Authority decided it was unsafe for Joshua to return to the school site due to serious safeguarding risks. Most of Joshua’s final school year was spent learning virtually, which proved challenging. Around the same time, Joshua and their family were relocated to another borough for safety reasons. The move left Joshua feeling isolated, without friends or connections in their new community.
During Spark2Life’s Support
Joshua had previously been mentored by Spark2Life at school. The Spark2Life mentor gained approval from the school to continue face-to-face mentoring sessions in Joshua’s new area. The mentor visited Joshua locally on several occasions — something Joshua said they really appreciated.
Spark2Life also arranged a tailored IT training course for Joshua, delivered by an Spark2Life IT tutor, enabling them to gain an AQA qualification as an IT first responder. Over time, Spark2Life noticed a positive shift in Joshua’s mindset. Instead of considering illegal activities like some peers, Joshua began talking about finding a part-time job. They also showed maturity in managing their emotions about the stabbing, resisting urges for retaliation and demonstrating self-awareness when discussing life decisions.
Joshua said:
“Before, I didn’t see much of a future for myself. Now, I’m starting to think differently about what I can do and where I can go.”
After Spark2Life’s Support
Joshua enrolled in college to study Construction. Spark2Life continued mentoring through Joshua’s first term to help with the transition and ensure they were settling in. Upon closing the case, Spark2Life referred Joshua to a trusted Education, Training and Employment (ETE) specialist to help them find part-time work in their chosen field.
This is a story that could have ended in tragedy. Instead, Joshua is now building a safer, more positive future.
Olivia
Before Spark2Life’s Support
Olivia was referred to Spark2Life by her school as she was very quiet and shy. The school felt Olivia would benefit from mentoring to build confidence, set personal goals, and support her transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
Olivia had been diagnosed with dyslexia, and her parent also reported that Olivia was on the autism spectrum and possibly had ADHD. Olivia’s family had previously been involved with social services, which was a traumatic experience as the children were removed from the family home and separated from their parent for a period. These events had a significant impact on Olivia’s learning, trust, social skills, and emotional wellbeing.
During Spark2Life’s Support
Spark2Life put in place a support plan which included:
- Weekly one-to-one mentoring for emotional support and stress-relief tools.
- Collaboration with teachers to ensure they understood Olivia’s needs and learning challenges.
- Practical adjustments, such as homework support, to accommodate the impact of Olivia’s medication.
- Transition assistance to secondary school, ensuring information and strategies were shared between staff, parent, and mentor.
- Family support provided to Olivia’s mum by an Spark2Life family support worker.
Over time, Olivia became more comfortable with her mentor and expressed how much she valued the sessions. Olivia was given stress-relieving resources which helped her cope with school demands while managing the effects of medication.
The Spark2Life team also secured a travel budget from the local council to help Olivia with the journey to school, easing a major concern for Olivia’s mother who worried about her struggling on public transport.
After Spark2Life’s Support
With this collective support, Olivia was able to transition smoothly to secondary school. Both school staff and her parent reported that Olivia was developing confidence, making academic progress, and showing personal growth.
Olivia said she wanted to continue working with her mentor, highlighting how much the support had helped her.
Olivia’s parent commented:
“Spark2Life have been absolutely amazing with all of your support for Olivia, especially the mentoring. Olivia has really benefited from the guidance and care, and I can see the positive changes. I also truly appreciate how the SEND team at the school has been involved, offering their ongoing support. With the combination of this dedicated help, I now feel confident that Olivia will continue to thrive. Knowing that we have the necessary support in place going forward makes all the difference, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s efforts in making this happen.”
Emily Sayer, Head of Personal Development and PSHCE
I absolutely love working with Spark2Life and think that you are incredible organisation who does fantastic work, which has a huge impact on our young people.
I am Emily Sayer, and I am Head of Personal Development and PSHCE at Holy Family, Walthamstow.
As part of my role, I work closely with Spark2Life, and have worked with the team particularly closely this year. The team has delivered assemblies to our young people concerning topics such as stop & search, avoiding violence on the streets and their rights and responsibilities as citizens. In addition, the team has delivered workshops to groups of our Y10 and Y11 students who are vulnerable to making the wrong choices in the community, as well as bespoke mentoring to a select few students who have struggled with particular issues (including racism and subsequent anger, support with turning away from gang involvement following a student being stabbed, and lack of interest in school with repeated exclusions and anti-social behaviour in the community).
Firstly, I would like to say that Spark2Life's interventions have been invaluable. Every member of the team who I have encountered is not only passionate, but is also talented in building the rapport needed to effectively communicate and guide our young people. Whilst our pastoral team at Holy Family is both strong and effective, Spark2Life is able to offer students something which we as teachers cannot.
As you can imagine, in a diverse school such as ours, and in the current climate of a cost of living crisis, the prevalence of gang activity in Walthamstow and a general lack of resources in schools, Spark2Life's interventions are more important to us than ever.
have been working with the team for a long time now and am extremely grateful for all their work they do. I wanted to write to you at this stage of the academic year to ask that the funding provided by the borough which has allowed Spark2Life to work at Holy Family in this way this year is renewed, so that the team can continue to deliver their vital services at our school.
"It is integral that Spark2Life are able to continue their work at Holy Family as the impact is so clear."