About us
What is YourStory?
YourStory is a London-based, not-for-profit organisation that works with disadvantaged people from all social and ethnic backgrounds. We focus primarily on self-development and health issues, using a variety of techniques such as mentoring, physical activities, emotional management, sex education, drug awareness, communication skills, trust building, career development and group work.
YourStory is staffed by a tight-knit team, comprising experienced sessional staff and volunteers. We also have a pool of youth workers, who use their experience of working with asylum seekers, young offenders, teenage pregnancy, drug awareness, sports development coaches and volunteers to inform the work they do.
We have a rich and diverse cultural and ethnic ethos with clientele and staff coming from all walks of life - from Eritrean to Albanian ethnic origins and from ex-offenders to homeless individuals.
Our aims
YourStory seeks to ensure that individuals have clarity in their perceptions of society and their position and responsibilities within it. We aim to assist young people and adults to acknowledge and realise their positive growth potential.
Our vision is that individuals will have an equal opportunity to achieve their personal potential and to participate fully in their communities and society.
We strive to provide a consistent and committed approach which:
- is client focused
- seeks to maximise the development of individuals
- values the input and insight of young people
- promotes the appreciation of positive diversity
- recognises the wider context of individual complexities
- is action-orientated and linked to realistic goals, enabling the findings from interactions and research to be quickly translated into sustainable, positive, practical action
What we do
We provide specialist one-to-one and group self-development work for young people aged eight and upwards and their parents/guardians. YourStory works in a variety of settings and communities including:
- primary/secondary schools and pupil referral units
- young offenders (bail packages, court representations, prison visits)
- adult offenders (education, training and employment advice)
- social services (unaccompanied minors, emotional well-being)
- hostels for the temporarily homeless
- minority ethnic communities
We work with an average of 185 individuals weekly.
In addition to our programmes, YourStory Football Club was established in June 2003, catering specifically for socially disadvantaged young men. We also provide professional football coaching and are a close partner of Kick It Out.