AIG Launches Youth Futures with Support from BBC Children in Need

Afro Innovation Group is pleased to launch Youth Futures, a new three-year programme supporting refugee and asylum-seeking young people aged 12–18 in Leicester, with support from BBC Children in Need.

Youth Futures will provide a safe and welcoming space where young people can meet others, build friendships, develop confidence and communication skills, and get practical support as they think about their education and future.

What will Youth Futures offer?

Through regular activities and one-to-one support, young people will have opportunities to develop skills, explore their interests and become more confident about the choices available to them.

The programme will include:

• Weekly youth sessions

• Structured mentoring and goal-setting

• Practical life and digital skills

• Role-model sessions

• Support to explore education and training

• Volunteering and progression opportunities

Young people will also have an active role in shaping the programme, helping us understand which activities are most useful to them and providing feedback as Youth Futures develops.

What do we want to achieve?

Youth Futures has been designed around three key outcomes: reducing isolation and strengthening belonging, improving communication and engagement, and increasing confidence in making positive choices for the future.

For young people who have arrived in the UK as refugees or asylum seekers, building new friendships, navigating unfamiliar systems and thinking about education or future opportunities can come with additional challenges.

Youth Futures will create a consistent space where young people can build connections while receiving practical support to take their next steps.

Supporting 120 young people

Over the three-year programme, we expect Youth Futures to directly support around 120 refugee and asylum-seeking young people in Leicester.

This new programme forms part of AIG’s wider work with children, young people and families, supporting people to participate, develop their skills and access opportunities within their communities.

We look forward to sharing more from Youth Futures as the first activities get underway.

Interested in Youth Futures?

If you are a young person, parent, carer, school, community organisation or professional and would like to find out more about the programme, please contact the AIG team.