The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a significant £2.3 million investment from his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to enhance mentoring programs in pupil referral units (PRUs)

across all 32 London boroughs. This funding aims to support vulnerable young people, reduce their risk of violence, and improve their engagement with education.

The expanded mentoring program is a key component of the Mayor's strategy to address youth violence. By embedding mentors in PRUs and alternative provisions, the initiative provides one-to-one and group mentoring for young people aged 11-18 who are at risk of exclusion. These mentors help students re-engage with their education, fostering a safer and more supportive learning environment. Since the VRU’s establishment in 2019, London has seen notable decreases in violent crime, including a 23% reduction in homicides, a 25% reduction in knife crime with injury among young people under 25, and a 25% reduction in gun crime.

From September 2022 to July 2024, VRU-funded mentors supported over 1,500 young people across 22 boroughs. During this period, 82% of PRUs and alternative provisions reported improved attendance among mentored students, with all schools observing better relationships between students and staff. Additionally, 86% of PRUs noted fewer behavioral incidents among mentored students.

With this new funding, the VRU aims to extend its reach, ensuring mentoring programs in every borough over the next two years. This aligns with the Mayor’s manifesto pledge to invest in youth mentorship and is expected to support an additional 2,200 young people, helping them stay engaged in education and away from violence.

This announcement also supports the London Inclusion Charter, launched by the VRU in February, which seeks to reduce suspensions, exclusions, and absenteeism. Nearly all London boroughs have now adopted the Charter, with support from 20 national charities such as Barnardo’s, Mission44, The Difference, and The Children’s Society. Furthermore, City Hall has partnered with UNICEF UK, investing £1.4 million to promote inclusive practices in over 500 schools, benefiting 94,000 young Londoners.

Since taking office in 2016, Mayor Sadiq Khan has invested more than £100 million in London’s youth sector, creating over 500,000 positive opportunities for young people, including 350,000 through the VRU. This effort aligns with his broader mission to reduce youth crime and support vulnerable young Londoners.

Earlier today, Mayor Khan and VRU director Lib Peck visited Orchardside School in Enfield to see firsthand the impact of mentorship on student attendance and career readiness. This investment represents a crucial step in the Mayor’s commitment to fostering safer, more inclusive learning environments for young people across London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am committed to investing in young people and giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential and to thrive in our great city.

“Key to that is education and being in school where we know young people are safe and supported to develop and grow.

“That’s why my Violence Reduction Unit is investing in more youth clubs and supporting the life-changing role that youth workers and mentors play in our schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision settings and communities to divert young people away from violence and towards opportunity as part of my work building a safer London for everyone.”  

Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “We firmly believe that young people are safer in school, whether that’s mainstream, in a pupil referral unit, or in alternative provision. It’s often education that provides the platform for young people to build strong relationships and a path towards opportunity.

“It’s here where the role of a trusted adult relationship can have real impact on a young person’s life. Every day, mentors, working in partnership alongside teachers, are making a difference. Whether that’s inspiring a young person to reconnect with the power of learning, supporting them to improve their mental health, or helping them overcome barriers to attending school.

“Over the last two years we’ve seen the real impact in our pupil referral unit mentoring programme is having on young Londoners. That’s why we’re boosting funding to expand mentoring right across London to give young people the support they need.”  

J Grange was excluded from school and went to a pupil referral unit. He is now a member of the VRU’s Young People’s Action Group.

He said: “My school experience was challenging. I faced permanent exclusions from two mainstream schools and often felt misunderstood. However, attending a PRU changed everything for me. The environment there, where teachers truly understood and supported me and allowed me to thrive.

“It became a major turning point in my life and set the foundation for my achievements as an internationally recognised public speaker and neurodiversity advocate. It’s also led to incredible opportunities, such as being involved with the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit.

“Through my work with the VRU, I’ve visited many PRUs across London, engaging with young people about the transformative power of mentoring. It’s inspiring to see how this initiative is helping young people realise their potential and giving them opportunity to thrive.”

Celeste Fay, headteacher at Orchardside school, a pupil referral unit in Enfield, said: “Everyone at Orchardside is a mentor to our learners. Mentoring shapes all our relationships with our students. It drives personal growth, builds skills, knowledge, and an understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.

“Our approach to mentoring evolves around continuous positive regard and nurturing attachments. Reinforcing the messages that they have a stake in society and in their lives, mentoring at our school is about agency, responsibility, and personal growth.”

Lewis Ball, a VRU-funded mentor at Orchardside school, said: “As well as being a space to work through thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, mentoring to me is one of the best opportunities for students to play. Pressure to act like an adult amongst their peers combined with tough home environments means lots of young people haven’t had enough time to do this, but when given the opportunity, the impact on their wellbeing is significant.”

Charlie, a Year 10 student at Orchardside, said: “I really enjoy my mentoring sessions, whenever I am having a bad day or annoyed, my mentor helps me by telling good jokes and doing a fun activity with me such as bike riding, football, and table tennis. The mentoring sessions have helped me improve my behaviour and created a thinking space for me to reflect and change my ways.”

Nkechi Simms, an actor who attended PRUs in London from the age of 12, said: “I bounced around from one PRU to another when I was younger, and I remember feeling written off. I’m really pleased that the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit is expanding dedicated mentoring to young people who have been excluded from school. This will provide proper support when they need it most, and set them up for a brighter future.”

Christian Foley, poet in residence for PRUs/alternative educational provisions in east London, said: “I have worked with young people who have been excluded from school for many years, and their strength and creativity inspires me on a daily basis. Rolling out mentoring to pupils in PRUs across the capital will be transformational, so I’m delighted to support the Mayor’s announcement.” Photo by National Archives, Wikimedia commons.