Youth projects helping vulnerable young people in Croydon move forward
Reedham Children’s Trust supports partnership-led projects that help vulnerable children, young people and families access practical support, safe spaces, education, confidence-building activities and opportunities for the future.
Current partnerships support over 2,000 local young people per year.
Working with schools, charities, voluntary organisations and grassroots partners.
Supporting children and young people across Croydon.
Supporting children and young people across Croydon.
OUR PROJECT MODEL
Reedham Children’s Trust works through local partnerships. This means we support organisations that already understand Croydon’s communities and have trusted relationships with children, young people and families.
Our projects are designed to respond to real needs, including school exclusion, social isolation, poverty, food insecurity, mental health, homelessness, refugee support and lack of access to positive activities.
The aim is to help young people feel safer, more supported and more able to take positive steps in education, community life and adulthood.
OUR PROJECT AREAS AT A GLANCE
Community Based Youth Hubs
Reedham supports youth hub-based programmes that provide safe places, mentoring, activities, food, skills development and trusted adult support for young people.
Croydon Schools Engagement Programme
Delivered in partnership with Legacy Youth Zone, this programme supports vulnerable young people at risk of exclusion, expulsion, social isolation or already in alternative education.
Croydon Safe Space Project
Delivered in partnership with Good Food Matters, this project supports socially disengaged young people through safe activities, cooking, food growing, sport, arts, mentoring and nutritious meals.
Young Refugees and Family Support
Delivered in partnership with Croydon Refugee Day Centre, this project supports families in emergency and dispersal accommodation with practical hardship support and help accessing local services.
Youth Homelessness Prevention
Delivered in partnership with Keep It Moving CIC, this pilot supports young people at risk of homelessness through housing advice, systemic family therapy, mentoring and employability support.
Youth Innovation Fund
The Youth Innovation Fund invests in Croydon Youth Consortium projects that test new ways of supporting vulnerable young people across the borough.
Community Based Youth Hubs
Reedham supports youth hub-based programmes that provide safe places, mentoring, activities, food, skills development and trusted adult support for young people.
Croydon Schools Engagement Programme
Delivered in partnership with Legacy Youth Zone, this programme supports vulnerable young people at risk of exclusion, expulsion, social isolation or already in alternative education.
Croydon Safe Space Project
Delivered in partnership with Good Food Matters, this project supports socially disengaged young people through safe activities, cooking, food growing, sport, arts, mentoring and nutritious meals.
Young Refugees and Family Support
Delivered in partnership with Croydon Refugee Day Centre, this project supports families in emergency and dispersal accommodation with practical hardship support and help accessing local services.
Youth Homelessness Prevention
Delivered in partnership with Keep It Moving CIC, this pilot supports young people at risk of homelessness through housing advice, systemic family therapy, mentoring and employability support.
Youth Innovation Fund
The Youth Innovation Fund invests in Croydon Youth Consortium projects that test new ways of supporting vulnerable young people across the borough.
COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH HUBS
Reedham Children’s Trust currently supports two youth hub-based programmes, with new programmes planned for 2025/26.
These projects give young people safe places to go, trusted adults to speak to and structured activities that help build confidence, life skills and connection.
Croydon Schools Engagement Programme
The Croydon Schools Engagement Programme began in September 2022 in partnership with Legacy Youth Zone. It supports vulnerable young people in Croydon who are at risk of exclusion, expulsion, social isolation or already in alternative education. Each young person is referred to a bespoke Skills Development Programme alongside health and wellbeing activities such as sport and creative arts. Many young people also receive mentoring. The programme helps young people build confidence, strengthen engagement with school and take a more positive role in their communities. To refer a young person to the programme, Contact Dami . To support this project, contact Jessica
Croydon Safe Space Project
The Croydon Safe Space Project is delivered in partnership with Good Food Matters. It provides after-school, evening, weekend and holiday activities for socially disengaged and vulnerable young people in Croydon. The project gives young people a safe space to be, while helping them build confidence, practical skills and positive relationships. Activities include food growing, preparation and cooking, football, arts and crafts, events, nature walks, mentoring and guest speakers. Each young person attending receives a nutritious meal on every visit. A third of the project's activities are centred around cooking. On those days, each young person cooks and takes home food for their family. To refer a young person to the programme, Contact Dami. To support this project, contact Jessica
SUPPORTING YOUNG REFUGEES AND FAMILIES
In partnership with Croydon Refugee Day Centre, Reedham supports families in emergency accommodation and dispersal accommodation in Croydon.
The Family Support Project supports hundreds of children.
The project provides practical hardship support for families with children. This can include food vouchers, school uniforms, uniform vouchers and travel support.
It also helps families build links with other organisations, understand UK education and child-related systems, access within-year school applications and find extra support for children with special educational needs.
The outreach team works sensitively across language, culture and other differences, helping build trust with families and volunteers so that children seeking asylum in Croydon have better access to support and opportunity.
To support this project, contact Jessica
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
The project combines specialist housing advice with systemic family therapy, mentoring and employability support.
It focuses particularly on young people facing homelessness because of serious youth violence risk, family breakdown, care experience, or moving on from Home Office accommodation after seeking asylum.
The project works with young people and families at an early stage to prevent crisis, reduce repeat homelessness and support more stable, independent futures.
With over 550 young people presenting as homeless in Croydon last year, this work is more important than ever.
The project is currently accepting referrals through Keep It Moving CIC.
Eligibility:
• Young people aged 17 to 25.
• At risk of homelessness.
• With a connection to Croydon.
YOUTH INNOVATION FUND
The Youth Innovation Fund was launched in 2024 for members of the Croydon Youth Consortium.
The fund supports innovative projects that transform the lives of vulnerable young people in Croydon. New project applications are invited annually.
Reedham is actively working with partners to secure funding for Year 2 projects.
If you are interested in investing in a project, contact Jessica on 07837339113 or email Jessica.
Year 2 projects:
Asylum to Autonomy
Empowering young people seeking asylum and from refugee backgrounds to become community leaders and role models. Delivered in partnership with Bluetouch London.
Digital Mental Health Hub
Co-producing a website with young people to provide a safe platform across the borough to access instant wellbeing support. Delivered in partnership with Croydon Drop In.
Odd Girl In
Providing an inclusive space for neurodivergent teenage girls to connect, grow and thrive. Delivered in partnership with Bright Futures 4 All.
Entrepreneurial Adventures
Empowering young people with learning disabilities through real-world business and catering experience. Delivered in partnership with Good Food Matters, Croydon Mencap and Knowledge and Practice.
ContentMENT
Using digital media and creative expression to mentor young people and build confidence, resilience and career readiness. Delivered in partnership with Mentivity.
Head Space
Delivering counselling support alongside education and training around mental health and suicide prevention. Delivered in partnership with Centre of Change and Aspire2B.
Asylum to Autonomy
Empowering young people seeking asylum and from refugee backgrounds to become community leaders and role models. Delivered in partnership with Bluetouch London.
Digital Mental Health Hub
Co-producing a website with young people to provide a safe platform across the borough to access instant wellbeing support. Delivered in partnership with Croydon Drop In.
Odd Girl In
Providing an inclusive space for neurodivergent teenage girls to connect, grow and thrive. Delivered in partnership with Bright Futures 4 All.
Entrepreneurial Adventures
Empowering young people with learning disabilities through real-world business and catering experience. Delivered in partnership with Good Food Matters, Croydon Mencap and Knowledge and Practice.
ContentMENT
Using digital media and creative expression to mentor young people and build confidence, resilience and career readiness. Delivered in partnership with Mentivity.
Head Space
Delivering counselling support alongside education and training around mental health and suicide prevention. Delivered in partnership with Centre of Change and Aspire2B.
YEAR 1 YOUTH INNOVATION FUND PROJECTS
Her Hero
STEM-based skills for vulnerable girls and young women. Delivered in partnership with Reaching Higher and Aspiring Young Women.
Box Therapy
Non-contact boxing combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Delivered in partnership with Be Inspired.
BleedKits
Providing an inclusive space for neurodivergent teenage girls to connect, grow and thrive. Delivered in partnership with Bright Futures 4 All.
Creative Empowerment
Creative arts skills and therapeutic mentoring for young people in alternative school provision. Delivered in partnership with P4YE and Hope Pro UK.
Grapple Warriors
A 12-month journey for fathers and sons through jujitsu, mentoring and personal growth. Delivered in partnership with Holistic Wellbeing Hub.
Respect the Game
Artist development and mentoring for young people. Delivered in partnership with Syrus Consultancy.
Inspiring Minds
Personal development, learning and wellbeing support for looked-after children. Delivered in partnership with Majestic Services.
Music Box
A music industry event management course for young people interested in live music. Delivered in partnership with Finesse Foreva.
Her Hero
STEM-based skills for vulnerable girls and young women. Delivered in partnership with Reaching Higher and Aspiring Young Women.
Box Therapy
Non-contact boxing combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Delivered in partnership with Be Inspired.
BleedKits
Providing an inclusive space for neurodivergent teenage girls to connect, grow and thrive. Delivered in partnership with Bright Futures 4 All.
Creative Empowerment
Creative arts skills and therapeutic mentoring for young people in alternative school provision. Delivered in partnership with P4YE and Hope Pro UK.
Grapple Warriors
A 12-month journey for fathers and sons through jujitsu, mentoring and personal growth. Delivered in partnership with Holistic Wellbeing Hub.
Respect the Game
Artist development and mentoring for young people. Delivered in partnership with Syrus Consultancy.
Inspiring Minds
Personal development, learning and wellbeing support for looked-after children. Delivered in partnership with Majestic Services.
Music Box
A music industry event management course for young people interested in live music. Delivered in partnership with Finesse Foreva.
CROYDON YOUTH CONSORTIUM
The Croydon Youth Consortium is a group of Croydon’s enterprising voluntary and community sector youth providers.
It was brought into being by Croydon Voluntary Action and Reedham Children’s Trust in summer 2022.
The consortium supports a shared vision: that every child and young person in Croydon should receive the support they need to be happy, healthy and fulfilled, and able to take positive steps towards a successful and responsible adulthood.
Members deliver services for children and young people through community hubs, youth centres, schools and colleges. The consortium also supports parents and carers through networks across the borough.
Membership is open to voluntary and community sector youth providers working collaboratively to support young people in Croydon.
For membership enquiries, contact Rachel
FUNDRAISING SUPPORT FOR PROJECT PARTNERS
Reedham Children’s Trust also offers fundraising support to project partners for the active projects delivered in partnership with the charity.
Support can include:
• Identifying suitable trusts and foundations.
• Reviewing funding applications.
• Support with writing applications.
This support is designed to help partners sustain projects beyond their first year or meet additional income needs during the current year.
Please note:
• Reedham is not currently able to support with introductions to companies or individuals.
• Support may be limited depending on an organisation’s setup.
• Some trusts and foundations only accept applications from registered charities.
• Reedham cannot help fundraise for private companies.
• Support depends on capacity and is agreed with each project within the first six months of the project commencing.
For more information, contact Jessica
HOW TO SUPPORT A PROJECT
Ways to help:
• Make a donation.
• Support a Reedham Child in 2026.
• Fundraise for Reedham.
• Become a corporate partner.
• Invest in a project.
• Discuss matched funding.
• Share Reedham’s work with others.
FAQ
What types of projects does Reedham support?
Reedham supports projects linked to youth hubs, school engagement, safe spaces, young refugees and family support, youth homelessness prevention, and innovation through the Youth Innovation Fund.
Does Reedham deliver projects directly?
Reedham works through a partnership model. Many projects are delivered with schools, charities, voluntary organisations and grassroots providers already working with young people in Croydon.
What is the Youth Innovation Fund?
The Youth Innovation Fund was launched in 2024 to support Croydon Youth Consortium members to develop innovative projects for vulnerable young people in Croydon.
Can organisations apply for Youth Innovation Fund support?
New project applications are invited annually from eligible Croydon Youth Consortium members.
How can I refer a young person?
Some projects accept referrals directly or through partner organisations. For youth hub-based programmes, contact Dami@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk.
How can a funder support a project?
Funders can contact Reedham to discuss project investment, matched funding or partnership opportunities. Contact Jessica@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk.
Talk to Reedham about projects
If you would like to support a project, discuss partnership, ask about referrals or learn more about the Youth Innovation Fund, please contact the team.
Reedham Children's Trust, 23 Old Lodge Lane, Purley, Surrey, CR8 4DJ