139 vulnerable young people have been helped to leave gangs and negative lifestyles since 1 April 2015… and the SOS Team has done a whole lot more!

982 mentoring sessions have been completed

584 young people have been assisted with Prison, YOS or Probation Services

484 young people were given family support

374 young people have been helped to search for jobs

350 young people been accompanied to interviews

310 application forms have been completed

247 cases were given welfare rights advice

224 young people stated that they have improved relationships

We are on target and still have 3 more months to go before the end of the year!

New staff:

A huge welcome to CJ to the team who after working on Peer Assist – St Giles Trust’s digital advice service – has now become the new SOS+ Co-ordinator. She will be co-ordinating all the SOS+ sessions and seeking to get the sessions accredited through AQA.

Congratulations to Kyle for going from a part- time worker to full time and is now working in Hackney.

Recent developments:

We are working with long standing St Giles Team Manager Carole Brown in Ipswich to find 12 amazing individuals to be trained in the Level 3 Information Advice and Guidance qualification. They will work with other organisations in local areas which have issues of serious youth crime. This builds upon the work previously carried out in Ipswich between SOS and charity Fearless which went into schools and community settings advising and empowering young people with tools they could use to make better lifestyle choices.

We are also thankful for funding from Kensington and Chelsea Council which has helped with the support of private funders and K+C Foundation. This funding has enabled us to continue the work with young people in the borough at risk of negative lifestyle choices.

We have been exceptionally fortunate to receive funding from Hackney community grants – this will go towards funding our work in the borough.

On Saturday 5 March, SOS Founder Junior Smart will speak at a crime summit at Islington Assembly Hall. The borough has seen a spate of youth crime in recent months and Junior will bring the insights of SOS to the assembly. The event is open to everyone but you must register to attend. Further details are at www.islington.gov.uk /crimesummit or email csputeam@islington.gov.uk