Newcastle mentors tackling youth violence receive £480k National Lottery cash boost

A specialist mentoring service striving to steer vulnerable local young people away from serious crime and violence is celebrating today after being awarded nearly £480,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Edge North East employs mentors who themselves have direct experience of exploitation from criminal gangs to empower local young people who are, or could become, entangled in youth violence.

Based in Newcastle, the charity works across the North East of England to coach children and teenagers and reduce the risk of them becoming victims or perpetrators of knife-crime. Some mentees come from families who have been involved in serious and organised crime for years – including drug dealing, fraud, and money laundering.

The £479,800– raised by players of The National Lottery – comes as a huge boost to Edge North East, enabling it to recruit new ‘lived experience’ mentors and reach more than 150 vulnerable young people across the region, moving them away from lives of crime and harm.

The mentoring scheme – which is dependent on building strong and trusting relationships - provides the young people involved with opportunities to become better engaged in positive activities including music and boxing, education, employment, giving them the chance to see a more positive path for their future.

Project leaders believe mentors who have lived experience of crime and violence are often best placed to understand perspectives of at-risk young people and provide them with positive role models from similar backgrounds.

One of Edge’s mentors, Andy Smith, spent much of his teenage years in a children’s home and between foster care placements. Later, he engaged in crime and anti-social behaviour, dealt drugs, and carried weapons. It was when Andy – who was, at the time, a young father - received a two-year suspended sentence he realised that he did not want his children visiting him in prison and that he needed a seismic shift in his life.

Now, Andy’s insights and experience informs how he supports young people who are on a similar path to the one he once found himself on. He knows that, as an adult, he can be that positive role model he needed when he was young.

Andy said: "Having a person with lived experience can make a huge difference to a young person – someone who understands where they are coming from, what they are going through and recognises their needs. The young person can see that they can turn it all around and not be trapped in a cycle or lifestyle that has a negative impact. They can achieve what their goals and lead a positive life and reach their potential."

Collette Devlin-Smith, Managing Director of Edge North East, said: "Thanks to National Lottery players for this funding, which will enable us to carry out this project over the next three years - engaging with young people, across Newcastle, who are at risk of being exploited or becoming involved or a victim of serious youth violence.

She added: “We are excited to take on this challenge with the support from the National Lottery Community Fund.”

Duncan Nicholson, Head of Funding for North East & Cumbria region at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “People with direct experience of the issues facing their communities are often best placed to tackle those issues – especially when that means re-directing vulnerable young people away from pernicious paths. We know that when you put people – people like Edge North East mentors – in the lead communities thrive. That’s why we’re proud to award National Lottery money to support such vital and valuable projects.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £40 billion has been raised for good causes in the areas of arts, sport, heritage and community over the last 25 years.

Want to make a difference to your community?

There are plenty of ways to apply for funding to turn great ideas into reality. To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk