Routes2Success is Action for Race Equality’s long-running ethnic minority role model and mentoring programme, supported by the Greater London Authority and Blackbaud, for the benefit of children and young people aged between 10 – 24 who live in London.
Discover R2S
In this video, Programme Manager Brianna Cyrus and Action for Race Equality’s Chief Executive Jeremy Crook OBE, explain how Routes2Success works, and how it benefits young people and the organisations we work with.
Thanks to these sessions, I feel like I have a better idea of what I want to do in the future”
Routes2Success pupil, 2022
Want to make a difference to the lives of young people?
We’re recruiting!
About the project
Routes2success is for the benefit of children and young people aged between 10 – 24 who live in London. The programme is currently supported by the Mayor of London through the New Deal for Young People and the Propel collaboration; the National Lottery Community Fund and Blackbaud..
Over 2019-2022 we were funded by the Young Londoners Fund for which we have published a 3 year evaluation summary.
The Programme
Routes2Success is a role model and mentoring programme aimed at supporting young people aged 10-24 from ethnic minority backgrounds. Young people are provided with positive role models from similar backgrounds who will support them with careers advice, entrepreneurial skills, making positive choices and guidance to overcome obstacles.
Selected young people will have dedicated mentors who will provide 1-2-1 support. We work with schools, youth organisations, pupil referral units (PRUs), young offender institutions (YOIs) and Prisons.
We tailor our workshops delivered by our volunteer role models to inspire young people to think practically about the best way to realise their full potential in education and employment and equip them with tools to manage their social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Interested in taking part in a session?
The Team
Brianna Cyrus is the Routes2Success Programme Manager
Stephen Roach is the Project Coordinator
Liam Campbell is the Local Project Development and Engagement Officer
Jeremy Crook OBE is ARE’s Chief Executive
And our fantastic volunteer role-models and mentors!
What we’re doing
Under our latest funding through the Propel initiative, we’re working to deliver quality mentoring and youth activities, including Race Equality Action Plans (REAPs), by collaborating with our new partners, Your Story and Father2Father.
We’re currently working on showcasing some of the podcasts created by schools undertaking REAPs – stay tuned!
Role Models
We recruit role models for Routes2Success. They come from all walks of life and have diverse backgrounds, but they have one thing in common – their commitment to being a positive, visible presence in the lives of young people.
Local Projects
We’ve worked with educational establishments and organisations helping young black males aged 10-25 set-up their own social entrepreneurship-led projects. Chosen project ideas have helped empower young people, giving them a chance to experience different job roles. Beneficiaries develop their skills in areas including presenting and communication and social skills. Our local projects have also helped community cohesion, reaching out to young people from diverse backgrounds.
We’ve produced a six step ‘Local Project Handbook’ to help organisations run their own local initiatives based our co-produced model.
Outcomes
ARE’s R2S Programme has engaged with over 3,000 young people over eight years and the feedback from young people and organisations have been very encouraging.
R2S has allowed me to have a mindset that will set me up for the future”
Year 9 student, (November 2020)
Our overall programme outcomes are:
- Young people at risk of becoming NEET continue in school or college
- Young people have career ambitions not constrained by ethnicity or gender
- Young people have a better understanding of skills/qualifications employers are looking for
- Young people will have increased their self-esteem and confidence as a result of their participation in workshops.
- Young people at risk of exclusion from school have improved their behavior and are inspired to succeed in life
- Young people in the criminal justice system have better awareness of entrepreneurial skills
Evidence of success from project participants in past years include:
- 93% said that they were more likely to stay on to further education after attending R2S sessions
- 80% said that they felt more confident about their future; and
- 73% said that their confidence in their academic abilities had increased after the sessions.
Feedback collected at the end sessions demonstrates impact of role model involvement with participants often saying the best part of the sessions was hearing from role models including their journey and how they overcame issues to become successful.
our partners
OUR FUNDERS
Case study: Kemi’s story
AN EAST LONDON SECONDARY SCHOOL
A female student took part in a group Routes2Success session about preparing for the year’s upcoming GCSEs. She then stepped forward seeking further 1-2-1 support, to explore her own specific challenges with a dedicated mentor.
“If I had to rate Route2Success on a scale of 1-5, I would give it a 5. My mentor was absolutely kind, motivational, and helped open my eye to things I never realised were a problem. She helped me figure out what I would like to do for my post-16, as well as the career I would like to pursue. If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would definitely take the offer as it was really enjoyable discussing my life.
We will continue to inspire, motivate and raise the attainment of ethnic minority females and black males aged 10-18 in education, employment and entrepreneurship as well as those at risk of entering the criminal justice system. We will do this by using a dedicated volunteer force of successful role models from ethnic minority backgrounds who act as role models for the young people we work with.
