Mentoring support provided to 100,000 young Londoners

More than 100,000 young Londoners have accessed mentoring support thanks to £34 million investment from the Mayor of London.

It is believed this investment has delivered the largest roll-out of targeted support and opportunity for young people in the UK.

The investment through the Mayor of London's New Deal for Young People (NDYP) mission has fulfilled a manifesto pledge to ensure 100,000 young people most in need of support have had access to a mentor.

This target was reached by the end of 2024 and currently the number of teenage and under-25 murders in London are at their lowest level since 2012 and 2003 respectively.

The latest figures from ONS have shown that the violent crime rate is lower in London than in the rest of the country.

More than 150 youth organisations - including schools, community groups and local authorities - have provided mentoring opportunities across the capital thanks to funding from City Hall and London's Violence Reduction Unit.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I know first-hand the difference a trusted mentor can make to a young person's life which is why I’m delighted to announce that I have delivered on my manifesto commitment to provide access to a mentor for 100,000 young people in need of support in London.

“We could not have achieved this incredible milestone alone. I would like to thank the dedicated mentors and organisations we’ve worked with to achieve this target – it is their contributions that have and will continue to make such a difference to young Londoners.

“While I’m proud of our work so far, there is still a huge amount I want to do working with partners to ensure all young Londoners are supported and can grow up to fulfil their potential. Continuing to provide young Londoners with mentors will remain a vital part of ensuring we can build a safer and fairer London for everyone.”

Lib Peck, director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit and co-chair of the New Deal for Young People mission, said: “The Mayor set up the New Deal for Young People mission during the pandemic to boost mentoring and to ensure every young Londoner in need of support had access to a trusted adult for support and guidance.

“We have seen the life-changing impact this relationship can have on a young person, sometimes at a time of crisis.

“That’s why I’m really proud that with the Mayor’s investment and working in partnership with organisations across London, we’ve been able to deliver high-quality mentoring for 100,000 young people to help support them fulfil their potential.”