Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sadiq Khan unveils mentoring plans for young Londoners

Sadiq Khan unveils mentoring plans for young Londoners

YOUNG Londoners in need of support will have access to “dedicated mentors” by 2024 to help them reach their potential, the city’s mayor announced on Wednesday (9).

A manifesto pledge of Sadiq Khan, the initiative aims to cover children who have been excluded from school or college or impacted by exploitation and domestic violence.


It also covers those living in poverty or involved in the care system.

There are roughly 100,000 young people in London who face these kinds of challenges.

273714819 4892049557515001 6205124371215845079 n Mayor Khan speaks to a young father at the Osmani Centre.

Young Londoners have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with a third either losing their jobs or being furloughed, compared to one in six older adults, according to Resolution Foundation.

Many young people are working in insecure jobs with many on temporary or zero-hour contracts.

Khan announced a £7.2 million investment from City Hall to expand the mentoring offer in the capital.

The new fund consists of £4.8m for three programmes to boost mentoring capacity.

It will expand mentoring for young people, including in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, and support local organisations to provide training and work experience.

The mayor said London’s Violence Reduction Unit, which he set up in 2019, will invest £2.4m in a three-year mentoring programme to tackle school exclusions.

Khan, who visited the Osmani Trust in Blackwell Reach, said he was “determined” to put young people at the heart of London’s recovery efforts.

He said his initiative “will not only help prevent vulnerable young Londoners from being exploited or sucked into gangs and violence but provide a helping hand for Londoners to reach their potential”.

273683501 4892049260848364 6918986792578271326 n

“Working in partnership with London Councils and boroughs, community groups, the youth sector and others across our city, I’m determined to ensure that every young Londoner in need of support has the positive opportunities and role model they deserve. This will play a critical part in helping us build a safer, fairer and more prosperous city, where no one is left behind.”

Khan told Eastern Eye that it is important for young people to have dedicated mentors and role models who can give advice and support. He gave his own example of how he benefited from great teachers and sports coaches.

273731939 4892049264181697 4651736831731056576 n

Referring to role models, Khan had a word of praise for the founder of Asian Media Group (AMG), the late Raminklal Solanki, a pioneer of journalism in the UK.

"Mr Solanki did a great job with firstly Gujarati newspapers and then with other publications. I could see (Asian) people in senior positions because of the newspapers he was producing."

Georgia Gould, chair of London Councils, said, “With four in 10 of London’s children living in poverty, working with trusted and inspiring adult mentors can help children and young people navigate some of the challenges that they face and go on to achieve their goals”.

More For You

Police Recover £1M Stolen Jewellery in Hounslow, Owners Sought

The jewellery was largely taken from London’s South Asian community in Hounslow between 2023 and 2024. (Photo: Met Police)

Stolen jewellery worth £1m recovered in Hounslow, police seek owners

POLICE are seeking to reunite stolen jewellery worth over £1 million with its rightful owners after recovering the items during a proactive operation across London and the home counties.

The recovered collection includes identifiable pieces such as a World War One officer’s Rolex watch, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring, and an engraved gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

iStock)

Government announces fund to combat anti-Muslim hate

THE UK government has announced a new fund to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims, with applications opening on 7 April.

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

FILE PHOTO: Entrance of Manston short-term holding centre for migrants, near Ramsgate in southeast England. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

AUTHORITIES have launched an investigation following reports that a racist message was broadcast over portable radios at an asylum processing centre in Kent.

The incident occurred at the Manston site, where small boat arrivals are processed by the Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, reported The Guardian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

Sri Lankan animal rights activists take part in a demonstration in Colombo on April 3, 2025, to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Narendra Modi. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

SRI LANKAN animal rights activists marched on Thursday (3) to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Authorities in Colombo and the Buddhist pilgrim city of Anuradhapura have reportedly deployed dog catchers to impound hounds ahead of Modi's visit, which begins on Friday (4).

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Explained: Impact of US tariffs on Indian exports

The United States has announced a 27 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods entering the American market.

Industry experts have said these duties will pose challenges for Indian exports, though India's position remains more favourable than some of its competitors.

Keep ReadingShow less