Thanks to funding from the Mayor of London’s MyEnds programme, our team have been working on the streets of Redbridge in and around Ilford Lane to develop a community-led response to issues of knife crime and youth violence that have been affecting neighbourhoods in the area.
This involves targeted intervention for at-risk young people, a programme of support and activities for local young people, as well as engaging with local communities to develop a long-lasting system of support for the area.
At LifeLine Projects, we’re all about spotting potential in people and supporting them to do great things in their communities. Sophia is one of those people. She’s passionate, committed, and full of ideas. Thanks to her drive and a little help along the way, she’s now running weekly well-being sessions that are bringing people together and boosting mental health in her neighbourhood.
We noticed that while many of our programmes already supported women and young people, there was a gap when it came to mental health support for others in the community, especially men. We wanted to make sure that everyone, no matter their background or familiarity with our work, could access support and connection.
Sophia first connected with us through our women’s coffee mornings and community outings. She didn’t just come along, she brought others too, inviting people from her local walking group and encouraging them to get involved. Her energy and passion for community work stood out, so we invited her to become a LifeLine volunteer. She was soon helping out with event planning and keeping track of who was attending.
We knew Sophia had the potential to do even more, so we supported her with everything she needed to get started:
- She successfully applied for a £500 Small Sparks Community Action Redbridge grant, with our help.
- We secured Engagement Hub 2 located on the second floor of Redbridge Central Library for her to host weekly well-being sessions.
- Our team guided her in planning a mix of workshops focused on mental health, fitness, lifestyle, creativity, and more.
In March 2025, Sophia officially launched her weekly coffee mornings and workshops. These sessions are a safe, welcoming space where people can connect and unwind, with activities including:
- Mental health and talking therapy-style discussions
- Diet and lifestyle advice
- Chair yoga
- Crafts and creative activities
The sessions have already helped new people discover our MyEnds programme, opening doors to even more support and opportunities in the community.
One of the biggest challenges was encouraging people who hadn’t used our services before to come along, particularly men. To tackle this, we:
- Helped Sophia promote the sessions as open to everyone in the local area.
- Supported her in spreading the word through social media and local WhatsApp groups like Love the Lane.
Thanks to her efforts, the group is growing and reaching more people every week.
We’re excited to keep supporting Sophia as her sessions go from strength to strength. Our next steps include:
- Ongoing mentoring to help her develop and grow the sessions
- Helping her recruit volunteers and offering support with supplies like refreshments and equipment
- Finding new funding opportunities to keep the project going long-term
- Expanding the outreach, so even more residents can benefit
My friend and I are involved in the coffee mornings, and we run the Mental Health Lounge at the Hub on Tuesdays.
We’ve worked closely with LifeLine, especially with Ayomide, who we helped to organise two women’s outings. Ayomide was really helpful and lovely to work with.
The trips went really well, everyone had a wonderful time. LifeLine funded them, and the whole team were so supportive.
Sophia
Sophia’s journey is a brilliant example of what the MyEnds programme is all about, empowering local people to lead change in their own communities. By backing passionate residents like Sophia, we’re creating long-lasting, community-led solutions that help people feel better connected, supported, and hopeful.
Ayomide Osinuga
Community Engagement Coordinator
