The Island N1

Islands of Space and Time….

In a society where children and young people are exposed to the harsh realities of the adult world from an ever-younger age, there are precious few support systems in place to help them deal with the difficult experiences and emotions they face. The Island N1 was founded when a group of youth and social work practitioners in the local area identified a lack of services in York equipped to support children and young people through the transition from primary to secondary school, that is from childhood to adolescence. As a charity, we also respond to research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on the benefits of mentoring vulnerable young people, as well as to educational psychologist Vera Fahlberg's concept of 'islands of space and time' needed to address problems and difficulties.

What The Island N1 does…

The Island N1 is a registered charity that has been operating since August 2007. It offers support to vulnerable 8 - 13 year-olds in York who are struggling to cope at home, school, or in the wider community, or who are experiencing difficult transitions in their lives. In 2009 we extended our service in partnership with the Choose2 Project to cater for young people with various disabilities between the ages of 14 and 19. The Island N1 links young people ('mentees') with volunteer mentors with whom they meet on a weekly basis over a minimum of one year. This allows them to develop supportive, ongoing relationships, whilst also providing them with the undivided attention and ‘islands of space and time’ they need to increase their self-esteem, participate in worthwhile recreational activities, and move forward in their lives. Mentoring sessions are varied, and can involve visiting a museum, going for a picnic, cooking, or playing sport to name but a few. We have also organised group trips to the theatre, an aquarium, and a stately home and gardens.

A vision for mentoring

Within the last 2 years, The Island N1 has assessed over 100 referrals from over 15 different agencies and individuals, and around 30 more are currently awaiting assessment. Unfortunately, we are only able to support about 40 children and young people with our present organisation, but demand is continuing to grow. The Island N1's vision is that a volunteer mentor could be provided to every vulnerable child or young person in York who needs support within 6 weeks of a referral being made.

We want to be able to offer more organised activities and excursions to our mentees as well as other opportunities so as to help them grow in confidence and in their expectation of life. The Island N1 also wishes to broaden the spectrum of backgrounds and experience that its volunteer mentors have, and to increase the number of people involved in mentoring. Volunteers are invaluable to our work, and mentoring is a hugely rewarding and practical way of giving something back to the community and making a positive difference in a young life.

Jenni Lucas, Project Support Officer, The Island N1

The Archbishop of York has been Patron of The Island N1 since 2009.  For more information, visit The Island N1