MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, wrote in the London Evening Standard of the shocking ‘almost 56 per cent of young black men [who] have no job.’
This is particularly relevant to London still coming to terms with last summer’s events by which ReachOut!’s own Summer Programme was disturbed. As part of attempts to understand the socioeconomic environment that may have led to the riots, Lammy suggests that the number of young black unemployed men ‘was a backdrop’ to the events.
He also speaks of family and the effect that worklessness can have on everyone touched by unemployment, especially younger members; ‘the lives of children are thrown into turmoil as they struggle in overcrowded homes, poor schools and poverty.’ ReachOut!’s projects works directly with these youngsters, providing weekly mentoring schemes to primary and secondary pupils – one-to-one attention that is so valuable to their development.
Lammy calls for mentoring schemes such as our ReachOut! Academy to provide role models for some of the worst affected –
‘Instead of City suits painting school fences on corporate social responsibility days, they should be inside the classroom to mentor these children about work and success. The message to Londoners is that helping these young men doesn’t just mean access to your cheque book but to your time.’
The ReachOut! Academy works with professionals who volunteer to mentor children in Hackney for a couple of hours each week. The mentors give up their time (not their money) to help children with maths, English and sports. Whilst the projects are fun and engaging, they are clear in their aims - to provide a safe environment for disadvantaged young people to fulfill their potential.
Lammy’s piece can be found here: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comment/comment/the-waste-of-keeping-young-black-men-out-of-jobs-7564940.html
Well worth a read.
By Steph Pickerill
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