16 | Acquisition International, Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2024 Best Youth Empowerment Charity 2024 – London It is an undisputable fact that young people are the future, the next generation of leaders and trailblazers. Despite this, there is not enough support for young people suffering from a myriad of problems that could have detrimental effects on their futures. Youth PWR is a non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting and inspiring young people to take control of their lives. Below, we take a closer look at the organisation’s admirable work. Contact: Rochelle Walters Company: Youth PWR Web Address: https://www.youthpwr.org Based in Croydon, London, Youth PWR specialises in youth development and empowerment that supports young people through engagement and education. Founded by CEO Adeola Onigbanjo in 2019, the organisation has gone to great lengths to protect the young people of Croydon and encourage them to invest in themselves through personal development. Ultimately, Youth PWR envisions a society in which all young people feel empowered to achieve their full potential and shape their future with confidence. It aims to achieve this vision through working alongside communities to engage and inspire young people. To do this, it offers a comprehensive range of programmes that are designed to equip young people with the necessary skillset, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in academics, careers, and their general life. The EVOLVE programme helps teach young people the necessary skills to attain and retain employment. As well as teaching a skillset, the programme also fosters personal qualities and values that allow young people to thrive in the workforce. The Space Project is a creative media programme that aims to empower young people with behavioural issues and young offenders to make better decisions and life choices. The three-part programme utilises creative outlets such as art, music, and the written form to give young people a space to express themselves. Y-PWR Sports is a weekly sport programme that provides recreational and sporting activities to young people. The programme encourages them to improve their physical wellness, confidence, communication, and ability to work in a team. PWR Lines Project is an employment programme with a focus on providing sales training opportunities and access to employment for vulnerable young people through the sales and distribution of the charity’s PWR magazines. The Bloom Room offers monthly activities for young people aged 13 to 18 years old and aims to build a community through interactive workshops and seminars. This programme supports physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development in young people through a range of inspiring and motivating activities such as monthly brunches and games. The charity’s employability programme, the Step In STEM Project introduces young people to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. The project helps them to widen their network and offers access to the STEM industry that they may not have otherwise acquired. Since 2019, Youth PWR has seen 51 skill enrichment classes, with 328 young people having taken part in at least one class. The charity has held 93 sport and leisure activities, with 239 young people having engaged in at least one session. 100% of the young people who participated in the programmes believed that they had been taught new skills and were better equipped for the world. This reach is truly remarkable and goes to show the commitment and dedication the charity has towards uplifting young people. Of the programmes, one young person says, “My experience was very enjoyable. It taught me how to approach people and how to be more confident. This experience has also taught me communication skills and made me able to engage with people.” Another programme member, Aliyah, writes, “The programmes at Youth PWR were very helpful for me. The workshops and one-toone support helped me build great skills and increased my confidence, learning to create CVs and how to ace interviews. I have also felt safer living in London as a female following the self-defence classes, where professionals came and trained us in the art of self-defence. The support from the team was awesome!” This glowing feedback is a testament to the changes that Youth PWR is implementing in Croydon. The charity has done a magnificent job in empowering a community of young people to strive for more, in addition to providing them the tools to do so. It is for this excellence that Youth PWR has been named the Best Youth Empowerment Charity 2024 – London. If you would like to find out more about Youth PWR’s empowerment programmes or find out how you can support the charity, visit Youth PWR’s website now.
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