Polish National Lodge

Tools 4 Teens is a local grassroots organisation led entirely by volunteers, which assists in the educational and emotional development of disadvantaged young people living in the London boroughs of Hackney and Haringey. The charity offers a daily interactive programme where we deliver a variety of educational workshops and activities which prep our participants with the skills they need for their adult lives and to enter the workforce confidently. Through their broad range of educational courses and extra-curricular activities, they aim to enable these disadvantaged teens to overcome barriers to employment, learn new skills, gain emotional independence and ultimately realise their potential.  Their extensive monitoring and evaluation techniques, positive feedback from community members and huge demand they are currently facing for a place on our programme are all testimony to the significant difference Tools 4 Teens continues to achieve for their participants.

The grant of £4,210 from the London Freemasons will be used to deliver a new project entitled "Skills 4 Emotional Success", which will take place over 20 weeks starting in January 2025 and will include 40 disadvantaged young women aged 16-18. The participants will be divided into two groups (20 young people per group), and each group will attend a two- hour session between 4pm-6pm once a week.

"Skills 4 Emotional Success" is aimed to be a multi- strategy, bespoke approach which will combine emotional well-being activities, skill-building workshops, sports activities and a one-to-one mentoring support system. Being engaged with other local teens will enable these young women whose futures are looking so bleak, to create long-lasting relationships and look ahead positively with increased opportunities.

The young participants will play a significant role during all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation, enabling them to develop important life skills, leadership abilities and increase their aspirations.

Mrs Esther Spitzer, Tools for TeensTrustee and Project Co-ordinator, said:

“Many of our beneficiaries have been exhibiting increased signs of stress and anxiety caused by their family's financial hardship. I am really passionate about the launch of this new project, so generously funded by the London Freemasons which will provide these young women with much-needed mentoring support and life skills, giving them important tools to deal with any crisis they may face in the future.”

Paul King from the London Freemasons said:

“We love the work Tools for Teens do with kids in Hackney and Haringey. What better than giving teenagers the skills they need to become the fulfilled and valuable citizens of the future which our community needs.”