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Annual Report 2011Creating Positive Futures

New Horizon Youth Centre aims to enable young people to gain skills and knowledge to improve their life chances and to help them move towards adulthood.

We do a great deal to turn the negative experiences around by offering a supportive environment whilst channelling young people towards meaningful lifestyles and occupations.

IiP Standard Renewed We were delighted that the IiP Standard was renewed in April 2011. In the words of our assessor on the day...

”Not only were the core requirements of the Standard met, but also the whole organisation could be held up as a good practice model of an Investor in People and senior managers have agreed they would be happy to be contacted as a potential case study.”

Inclusion Partner of the Year Award For our work in encouraging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in football we secured the ’Inclusion Partner of the Year’ Award from the Football Association in October 2011.

Pictured above is Alex Eagle, our Lifeskills Sports Worker, picking up the Award from Darren Smith, Football Development Offi cer at the London Football Association.

Finalist: 2011 Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award New Horizon Youth Centre was a fi nalist in the Community Partners’ 2011 Dragon Awards in Sept 2011.

Our partnership with Buzzacott Accountants focuses on giving young homeless people a real opportunity to secure employment in the corporate sector and readiness for work training.

We also received coaching in marketing skills from Buzzacott staff, helping to generate additional revenue for the Centre.

Civic Trust Awards ShortlistedWe were delighted to be shortlisted in November 2011 for the Civic Trust Awards 2012, out of a pool of over 350.

We were deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment which is inclusive for all users, whilst offering a positive social, cultural and environmental benefi t to the local community.

Creating Positive Futures

Annual Report 2011 Contents

April September

October December

02/03

What’sInside

02/03 Overview & Contents

04/05 Words from Our Chair Words from our Chair, Jon Snow

06/07 A Centre of Excellence An update from our Director, Shelagh O’Connor

08/09 A Centre Full of Achievements

Some of this year’s stand out items

10/11 Making a Real Impact Facts and fi gures on how we made a difference

12/15 Real Life Case Studies How we create positive futures

16/17 Our Directors and Staff The wonderful people who make it

all happen

18/19 Our Supporters A word of thanks to our supporters

Please note that due to the late fi nalisation of our accounts, a series of inserts containing our fi gures are contained in a pocket at the back of this document.

Photograph by Othello De Souza-Hartley taken at the Career Wear Fashion Show, New Horizon Youth Centre

A WordFrom OurChair

Our ChairmanJon Snow

A project that by defi nition is not of the local community is bound to represent some degree of tension when interacting with those who live about us. But one of the most exciting aspects of the past year has been the strength and fertility of our involvement with the local community. The focal point of this has been the development of the garden in the huge space in the middle of the housing complex behind us.

It was Michael Woodford, former CEO of Olympus who spotted the potential for uniting tenants and users of the centre. Before his well-publicised whistle blowing, Michael ensured that a grant was made from the Company’s social responsibil-ity fund.

The consequence is a fabulous garden used by children, par-ents and the local community. In the very week of the London riots, our young people were involved with up to forty local residents planting up the garden.

This is all part of providing those who use the centre with tar-geted activities that will give them a real stake in their future. Hence I can report that although we draw users of our services from all the riot centres, not one of our young people was involved in any of the rioting.

Throughout this report you will see evidence of numbers of young people who have moved on as a result of our support. This is a process that can take two years or more as we help them reach a position where they can succeed in a job or on a work placement.

We are dealing with some of the most vulnerable teenagers in the country. These long and productive periods of positive con-tact are hard to fund, particularly when funders are so keen on tangible outcomes very much faster than many of our young people can deliver.

Partnership is the key that underpins our success. The accountancy fi rm Buzzacott provide work placements and employment for some of our young people, as do Olympus in Southend at their European headquarters.

Our very good neighbours the Wellcome Foundation provide support and help to develop new initiatives in the com-munity for young people.

We are blessed to have the vast Crick Institute being built one street behind us. A ‘living centre’ is being developed within the build and our young people are playing a major part in its development. Indeed we have many hugely supportive neighbours – Central St. Martins, The British Museum, House of Illustration, London Wildlife Trust and Time Banking Scheme. We are grateful to them all.

Finally we would be struggling indeed without our volunteers, trained onsite by our own volunteer trainers, we now have 40-50 on our books. We were delighted to receive a visit from Ian Watmore and his team from the Cabinet Offi ce who have provided invaluable support for work placements and apprenticeships.

But above all I want to praise the best youth team in London, simply the best – professional, dedicated and possessed of a great sense of humour.

Jon SnowChair, New Horizon Youth Centre

04/05

AprilpComedy Night at New Horizon Youth Centre Ed Byrne and Jon Snow join forces to raise funds at the auction. Not every Chair would sell their own socks!

A Centre of Excellence

Our DirectorShelagh O’Connor

It’s two years since we opened our doors following an extensive re-build and refurbishment under the Government funded myplace programme. We set out to create a safe and welcoming space for young people who attend the centre and in this space to establish opportunities and experiences that motivate and inspire.

These goals have been at the heart of our activities over the past year and despite the cuts, threats to services and increasing demand for services we have succeeded in achieving our goals and have made a real and lasting impact on the fractured lives of the young people who sought our help and support.

How do we know we have succeeded? We monitor the achievements of young people through a recognised system that assesses, reviews and tracks.

We have worked with external organisations to quantify impact and currently we are involved in the steering group for a national evaluation of the impact of the myplace investment in youth facilities such as ours.

Throughout this report you will see evidence of the achievements of young people as a result of the positive intervention by our skilled staff in targeted projects.

Our Achievements page refl ects the diversity of activities but also, and more importantly, that we are recognised as a professional organisation providing quality services to some of the most disadvantaged in society.

Last year was a challenging one for the voluntary sector and especially for those of us involved in youth homelessness. Over the course of the year we have seen a 20% rise in the numbers of young homeless people attending the centre and of particular concern is that 84% of these young people are from Black and Minority ethnic groups.

At the same time we are seeing a reduction in available hostel spaces and increased pressure on families due to welfare reform. We succeeded in retaining the London Councils statutory funding which was under threat last year and represents 35% of our funding but as we move into 2012 the situation is even bleaker with their budget already cut from £22 million

to £8 million. On a positive note we are delighted to be the lead in a new partnership with the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington working with young people leaving care and young offenders.

This project is funded under the Youth in Focus Big Lottery stream and over the next three years we aim to reduce recidivism to improve access to education, training and employment and health services within the target groups.

I am so pleased to have retained a fantastic team of skilled workers who go that extra mile on a daily basis to benefi t and support young people.

I would like to thank all staff including volunteers and locums for their commitment and hard work.

We are looking forward to maintaining and improving the level of services over the coming year and working with our many supporters without whom we would not survive.

A big thank you also to Jon Snow, Robert Barnes and our wonderful Management Council.

Shelagh O’ConnorDirector, New Horizon Youth Centre

06/07

AprilAAprilRoyal Parks Half Marathon Katy Barnes, Shelagh O’Connor and Robert Barnes, Treasurer, members of the New Horizon Youth Centre Royal Parks Half Marathon team following their successful fundraising run.

Comedy Fundraiser

Ed Byrne, Al Murray, Dara O’Briain and friends wowed a packed audience at the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End on Monday 18th July 2011.

Over a 1,000 supporters turned up for a fantastic evening of comedy and fun including performances from the New Horizon Choir, Jon Snow and Mara Carlyle. This fundraising event raised much needed revenue for the centre and Ed Byrne has promised that it will be the fi rst of many.

It included other talented comedians: Dan Antopolski, Lucy Porter, JJ Whitehead, Simon Evans, Tom Allen and Matt Kirshen.

A Centre of Achievements

The Wessex Trust

TRH Prince Edward and Sophie awarded certifi cates to young people who had passed their training modules and gained accreditation.

The Wessex Trust continues to support our Christmas Appeal and Prince Edward and Sophie were joined by senior executives of Goldman Sachs who came to see at fi rst hand how their investment in training and education was bearing fruit.

We value the support of all our stakeholders including Leaving Care and Young Offending Teams, Housing Departments, accommodation providers, the local community in Somers Town, satellite agencies, the police, charities, companies and individuals. Working together we can make a lasting impact.

What a Great Year of Achievements

08/09

International Students

During 2011 we had the benefi t of some great students on placement from USA, Germany, Sweden and France who contributed over 3,000 hours work to the centre and shared new skills, ideas and learning.

In return we ensured that they gained valuable experience in working with hard to reach and disadvantaged clients and that all their course and college requirements were met.

Localism at Work

Celebrating Partnerships Event

We hosted a celebration in November to thank all our partners for their support and to encourage further joint working. Over 150 organisations attended including Local Authorities, hostels, colleges, training providers, companies, DCLG reps and other voluntary organisations. The event launched a new partnership with the Depaul UK ‘Night Stop Plus’ which will secure volunteers to provide emergency

bed spaces in people’s homes for someone at risk for up to six weeks. We will provide a package of support in this window of opportunity to help young people to move on and fi nd accommodation to help that young person into independent living through the range of support services on offer at the Centre.

But more is required, we need new thinking, we need Local Authorities, Central Government, private landlords and the voluntary sector working together to reduce the pressures on accommodation in London and to ensure that a prevention agenda is foremost.

Working with the residents of Levita House (where we are situated) we developed a wonderful new landscaping project in the courtyard. This bleak and uninviting space has been transformed with shrubs and foliage that enhance the entire block.

The landscaping itself was made possible through the support of Olympus Keymed and its dynamic leader Michael Woodford. Residents, young people from the centre, staff, the London Wildlife Trust, Lush Landscapes and Network Rail volunteers all worked together to bring the planting to fruition.

We all had such fun, met new neighbours, made friends and produced as you can see from the photos, such a fantastic result. At a recent Neighourhood Planning meeting the local Sergeant reported that since this landscaping was completed anti-social behaviour in the area had decreased.

Making a Real ImpactWe know we have been successful, we monitor and review but also our stakeholders tell us.

Making aReal Impact

300Number of new accommodation places secured for young people

228Number of individuals we visited in prison to provide activities and pathways to a more positive future

126Number of young people who had improved physical health through interventions from our nurse

1,935Number of appointments the advice team delivered to support young people with accommodation and other support needs

80Number of young people who had improved emotional well being as a result of counselling and group work

1,000Number of young people who improved their communication skills, confi dence and self esteem through a targeted youth work programme that provided assessments, action planning and referrals for each individual assessed

140Number of young people we helped return home

224Number of young people able to live independently - 60 clients improved their alcohol and drugs use

165Number of one to one MOTs completed by our nurse to give young people one to one support to healthier lifestyles

10/11

61Number of young people who worked on the smoking cessation programme

1,007The number of NEET programme sessions delivered to young people

203Number of young people who achieved accreditation in fi ve Personal, Social, Health and Education modules

1,000Number of housing referrals that we made to help young people

130Number of young people who improved their physical fi tness, team work and leadership skills through the Sports and Fitness programme which includes twice weekly gym, core fi tness training, aerobics and football

95%Number of staff who said that they would recommend New Horizon Youth Centre as a great place to work

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85%Our training and education programme had an 85% success rate in getting 234 young people into further training, work placements and employment

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120Number of young people who improved their numeracy and literacy and received an accredited certifi cate through the weekend service

75%Number of volunteers who completed our Training and Placement Programme and secured further education and employment opportunities

Photograph by Scott MacSween taken at New Horizon Youth Centre

Hello toEveryone

A Personal StoryTaliso Addow

I want to start by thanking you all for your great help in the past.New Horizon Youth Centre staff helped me fi nd a solution to every problem that I had.

I was 17 years old when I went there for advice for the fi rst time. The housing advice group helped me to get placed in a hostel and also helped me do my 12 steps of resettlement.Janet helped me get back to education.

Steven Templeman helped me do my CV which I still use to this day. Louise took me on a trip to learn how to sail.It was a great experience for me and it gave me confi dence receiving my crewing certifi cate.

Alex helped me use the gym which also gave me confi dence in myself. New Horizon Youth Centre is a great place for young people to learn and get help.

It’s a place to learn to be responsible, confi dent, and assertive and much more by taking advantage of their daily courses. They can help you with anything and will try their best to fi nd you a solution.

Thanks to their help I’m now a nursery nurse. I have a home. I know how to budget and be organised. I’m very confi dent and assertive about my life’s decisions.

I hope people fi nd the time to support this centre and keep it open for the future generation.

Thank you to all of you.

Taliso Addow Posted on our Facebook page

12/13

Helping toMake a DifferenceDebbie came to the centre early last year homeless, sleeping rough and had just turned 18.

She had spent the fi rst 11 years of her life in Islington with her mother and siblings, her mother had mental health problems and Debbie had been placed on the Child Protection Register in Islington along with her siblings, at risk of neglect.

When she was 11 she moved to stay with her father and grandmother in Haringey but was asked to leave at 17 due to ongoing arguments with her grandmother.

Debbie has some learning diffi culties and when she left her Grandmother‘s, she was forced to sleep rough and became mixed up in the sex industry as an ‘escort‘. We helped her move into a safe and secure shelter and then tried to establish some social housing for her as we felt she was a priority due to her vulnerablity.

She had been refused accommodation by Haringey but with the help of our Housing Advice Team and a solicitor we succeeded in getting the Borough to acknowledge that she should be a priority. We continue to work with Haringey to access suitable accommodation for her.

We then became aware that Debbie was pregnant and she visited our nurse to work through her options and to ensure that she was registered with a doctor. She has decided to go through with the pregnancy with support.

Due to the concerns about her vulnerability to exploitation, she has been linked into a variety of organisations to support her with the pregnancy.

New Horizon Youth Centre staff have represented Debbie at meetings with Social Services Child Protection teams and other professionals to ensure that Debbie and the unborn child are safe.

She is now attending parenting classes and further training in Lifeskills at the centre to improve her ability to live independently. She has gained in self esteem and self confi dence and she has shown a commitment to working with us to develop further skills and training.

A Personal StoryA Youth Team Client

Photographs by Othello De Souza-Hartley taken at the Career Wear Fashion Show, New Horizon Youth Centre

WorkingTogether

An AdviceTeam Client

Graham was 20 when he fi rst came to New Horizon Youth Centre in February 2011.

He had spent all of his life in one inner London Borough (Hackney), living between both of his parents at different addresses as they separated when he was very young.

He did have a close relationship with his mother until she met her new partner in 2004, the relationship then deteriorated and culminated in endless arguments and physical fi ghts.

He was asked to leave and then moved to his father’s on a more permanent basis, but this was at a very troubling period in his life as Graham was coming to terms with his sexuality and very nervous of how his father may react to him being gay.

He was spending much of his time out of the fl at, avoiding contact with his father as communication was very diffi cult. He also started to get into trouble with the police at this time and was arrested several times before serving a 2 month sentence for carrying a weapon.

When Graham was released from prison his father did not want him to return to his home. Graham had spent several weeks sofa surfi ng before running out of options and fi nding himself street homeless, sleeping in parks and riding night buses.

Much like the relationships with both of his parents, he had seen his friendships deteriorate through a combination of ‘outstaying his welcome’ and having to keep his sexuality hidden. He was very nervous and described himself as depressed during his initial assessment in a housing appointment.

It was during his second appointment that he began to relax and was able to disclose his sexuality and the fact that he had never trusted anybody enough in his life to talk about such an important issue.

Keeping this secret had led him to self harming and 2 suicide attempts in 2010. Graham attended 10 appointments with the Advice Team over a period of approximately 2

months and was successfully linked in with internal services including:

- Counselling where he was able to safely explore issues around his low mood and sexuality. - Health checks via the centre’s nurse. - NEET support which helped him to start looking towards a more secure and positive future in both education and employment.

He was also referred to other external services for additional support with coming to terms with his sexuality. The Advice Team managed to secure a bed in an emergency night shelter and he was referred to several hostels around London before moving into a supported housing project within his own borough.

This project gave Graham secure and long term accommodation with regular support meetings via a key worker.

14/15

I Really Love My Job

I started with New Horizon in September 2009 through the volunteer training programme.

My time as a volunteer was a little daunting at fi rst, but thanks to the volunteer training, and the support I received from the staff, I soon found my feet.

Volunteering at New Horizon has been a life changing experience for me. I feel respected, valued and part of a team all committed to doing their utmost for young people.

I started with one day per week, but within a few months, I was volunteering three days per week one day in the drop in, one in advice, and one day helping the admin department.

I found the holistic approach to be a breath of fresh air compared to my years working as a Civil Servant, and the volunteer training programme is second to none.

When an opportunity arose at the centre I applied for the full-time post of IT trainer and was successful at the interview stage. I was delighted to be offered the post.

I love my job as I am able to encourage young people to develop their skills and to secure accreditation which helps them fi nd work and further training.

Sina HarrisIT / Life skills Worker

A Volunteer’sSuccess Story

Photographs by Othello De Souza-Hartley taken at the Career Wear Fashion Show, New Horizon Youth Centre

The Team That Makes it All Happen

Our Directors and Staff

DIRECTORSChair: Jon Snow Secretary: Anne Davies Treasurer: Robert Barnes

Barbara Hughes, Julie Fitzgerald, Mary Treacy, Shayla Walmsley, Nick Hardwick, Ellie Roy, Hu Clarke, Paula McDonald

REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 276943REGISTERED NO: 1393561 (ENGLAND AND WALES)

AUDITORS Lubbock Fine, Chartered AccountantsRussell Bedford HouseCity Forum, 250 City RdEC1V 2QQ

BANKERSThe Royal Bank of Scotland127-128 High HolbornWC1V 6PQ

SOLICITORS Ashurts LLPBroadwalk House5 Appold StEC2A 2HA

ADMINISTRATION STAFFDirector: Shelagh O’ConnorHuman Resources Manager: Patricia Byczek Senior Administrator: Anna GrassicciaProjects Development Co-ordinator: Stella Hamada Administrative Assistant: Vandana GaglaniAdministrative Assistant (Maternity Leave): Julie Nguyen YOUTH WORK TEAM Manager: Derrie LacumbreSenior Worker: Mark Cruise

Team members: Sina Harris, Alex Eagle, Janet Matthews, Sue Treacy, Heidee Solomons, Nita Dinesh, Viviane Dasilva, Steven Templeman, Godgive Obafemi.

Below is a list of all the wonderful people who make this all happen, Thank you for all your commitment and hard work.

16/17

AOW TEAM (Advice Outreach and WOS - Women Only Space)Manager: Dean Harris Senior Worker: Peter Middleton

Team Members: Allison Morgan, Viviane Dasilva, Rhona D’Ambrosio, Leon Davis, Claire Kew, Darren Birch, Gina Williams-Lecointe, Pauline Lambert.

WEEKEND TEAM Manager: Isioma Onwuemezi Senior Worker: Haneyeh Belyani

TEAM MEMBERS: Ed Treacy, Sami Belhadj, Osania Robinson, Charles Parkinson, Lyn Johnson, Koisor Miah.

CLEANERS: Victoria Esomitoje, Comfort Konadu,Edward Ansah.

VOLUNTEERSCarla Edwards, Charmaine Murning, Paola Buitrago, Satvinder Virdhee, Vandana Gaglani, Shireen Davy, Susan Francis, Victor Mateu, Christina Giannouli, Sara Trindale, Karen Gunn, Adrien Tempier, Jeanette Kabongo, Marcia Taylor, Jackie Casey, Mulki Mahamood, Martina Connors,

Sarah Halsey, Zoe Bonython, Daniela Paudice, Aaron Minnigin, Abdulkadir Arshe, Sabrina Dinsdale, Jennifer Gourlay, Nazra Poli, Yvonne Turner, Melissa Hogan,

Peter Terblanche, Muna Ali Zayed Adam, Julian Tremble, Florina Gama, Adrian Lemes, Jessica Adams, Simone Stylli-Roussou, Heather Galley, Joanne Edwards, Aaron Brown, Cynthia Bernheim, Adegoke Popoola, Gabby Williams, Steve Broomfi eld, Fabio Bernardelle.

STUDENTSEden Andemariam, Johannes Rottker, Hazz Rees, Benjamin Rudolph, Nancy Clavier, Mafalda Mateus, Claire Topping, Yuta Wakabayashi.

LOCUM POOLMara Carlyle, Leo Pemberton, Paul Kerrison, Steve Ball, Danielle Imbert, Elizabeth Hebbron, Mandy Cadwell, Sonia Thomas, Tim Gilgallon, Sarah Halsey, Sami Belhadj, Cerys Rees, Ade Popoola, Gabby Williams, Sunday Dogo.

Photograph by Othello De Souza-Hartley taken at the Career Wear Fashion Show, New Norizon Youth Centre

Thanks to all our supporters

Our Supporters

CapitalLondon Borough of Camden - Integrated Youth ServicesCamden NHS Primary Care TrustLondon CouncilsIslington PCT – OutreachIrish Government Emigrant Support ProgrammeDept of Children Schools and Families - myplace

Charities and TrustsThe Samworth FoundationSt James’s PlaceBBC Children in NeedJohn Lyon’s CharityThe Peter De Haan Charitable TrustMary Kinross Charitable TrustComic ReliefLeathersellers CompanyIrish Youth Foundation (inc formerly the Lawlor Foundation)Richard Reeves FoundationLand Aid Charitable TrustStreetsmart Action for the HomelessThe Drapers Charitable TrustThe Wessex Youth TrustThe Buzzacott Stuart Defries Memorial FundAction Group for Irish Youth CharityJohn Armitage CharityThe Goldsmiths CompanyThe Lambert Charitable TrustEleanor Rathbone Charitable TrustThe Coutts Charitable TrustSound ConnectionThe Happy Charitable TrustThe 29th May 1961 Charitable TrustThe Austin & Hope Pilkington TrustSNR Denton UK LLP Charitable TrustThe Albert Hunt TrustRobert Bruce Barnes Charitable TrustBarrow Casbury FundThe Rhododendron TrustWoodroffe Benton FoundationSir Cliff Richards Charitable TrustThe Mischon Family TrustThe Ashcroft Charitable TrustDeutsche Bank

Glaxo Smith Kline Impact AwardMr S O GrahamIndependent Housing OmbudsmanHelp a London ChildProf Mary j HickmanCreate KX Reveal FestivalMrs S WynnickT P Mason & PR Froud Korn Ferry International LtdCBIFiona CalnanMetropolitan PoliceJ Sainsbury plcClive TaylorLogicscope LimitedWicked LondonSeven Publishing GroupMr A F HansonEarl of ListowelMr S HarrisMs Godgive ObafemiMiss M RicfeMs Linday F MackieFacts InternationalA GrassicciaRob InglisUCL

18/19

68 Chalton StreetLondon NW1 1JR

General Info +44 020 7388 5560Youth Work +44 020 7388 5570Advice +44 020 7388 5580Fax +44 020 7388 5848

info@nhyouthcentre.org.ukwww.nhyouthcentre.org.uk

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Registered Company No. 1393561Registered Charity No. 276943

Cover Photo by Scott MacSween

Creating Positive Futures