Since May, LifeLine Projects has been working as part of the Winning Harts consortium to empower the community and its young people and prevent serious youth violence on the Harts Lane Estate in Barking.
This community-focused initiative—led by the West Ham United Foundation and funded through the Mayor of London’s £14.5 million MyEnds programme—was launched to address the unique challenges faced by local youth and residents.
Our progress so far has been promising, and we’re on track to meet the programme’s goals of increased community engagement, expanded youth opportunities, and a safer environment for all.
The West Ham Foundation are running positive activities, providing one-to-one mentoring, and doing outreach work to engage and support young people.
LifeLine Projects are providing basketball and roller-skating activities for young people and managing the community grant programme to support local grassroots organisations.
Youth League UK are running positive football activities and providing one-on-one mentoring to help young people grow and stay safe.
Be Heard as One are mentoring young people involved in or at risk of joining gangs, guiding them toward better choices.
Box Up Crime are running positive activities, providing one-on-one mentoring, and doing outreach work to connect with young people in the community.
What we've achieved
In the past six months, the programme has laid a solid foundation of support and trust within the Harts Lane community. Early feedback shows that young people and residents are enthusiastic about the new positive activities we’re offering, many of which are free of charge.
Our SW!TCH team of youth workers have also been involved, conducting weekly activity sessions to give young people a safe, engaging space during the “lost hours” when they might otherwise be at risk of encountering negative influences.
Following feedback from the community, we’re aiming to increase our programme of activities during the evenings over the coming months.
And our local grants scheme, which will provide £40,000 over two years to support youth-led projects and grassroots organizations, is set to launch on 15th November. To ensure these grants are hugely beneficial to the community, we’re establishing a panel of residents who will help oversee the process.
Engaging with and listening to the community
Community outreach has been a vital component of our efforts. Our team members have been meeting residents informally on the streets, at bus stops, or in shops and other neighbourhood locations to build personal connections and listen to concerns. With this, residents have identified a need for improved lighting and greater police presence, especially during evening hours.
Safety remains a priority, and these insights are guiding our ongoing strategy.
Impact on youth engagement
The impact of our programme on youth engagement has been notable. Many young people have expressed gratitude for the safe, structured activities now available, and we’ve seen strong attendance.
Although it’s too early to measure changes in youth behaviour, we’ve already defused several tense situations, including a recent misunderstanding that could have led to a conflict.
Challenges and adaptations
While the programme has been well-received, it hasn’t been without challenges.
Access to suitable community spaces has been limited, and many parents are hesitant to let their children walk around the estate unsupervised. To address these issues, we’re adapting our outreach methods and will begin distributing flyers across the housing estate to reach more families directly.
Additionally, coordinating efforts with our consortium partners requires ongoing commitment, but the partnership has been rewarding, with each organisation contributing valuable insights and ideas.
Looking ahead
Our main goals for the next six months are to increase participation in positive activities, distribute grants to address specific community needs, and continue building strong relationships with local residents. Empowering community leaders and youth to take an active role in shaping and sustaining these programmes remains central to our mission.
We’re committed to establishing long-term solutions that will outlast the initial funding period, including supporting community-led services that can continue to serve residents independently. While this programme is currently focused on Harts Lane, we’re taking careful note of what works here in case similar models can benefit other communities in the future.
Measuring success
Our ongoing Community Needs Assessment will help us gauge the programme’s impact, and we encourage residents to attend our regular community meetings for updates. As the programme develops, we plan to share our findings publicly to ensure transparency and community involvement.
Together with our consortium partners and the residents of Harts Lane, we are hopeful that the My Ends programme will continue to make a lasting difference. We look forward to seeing the positive changes it brings to the community in the months ahead.
