Who Are We?

Newark Youth London is a registered charity set up in 1984 by local young people. It is run pre-dominantly by volunteers and operates across London Borough of Tower Hamlets. 

Our Aim

Newark’s aim is to develop the personal, social, physical and educational potential of young people through the provision of recreational and sports activities and youth work.

Our Activities

Newark Youth London’s activities are youth club and sports based. We use football to engage young people and then encourage them to participate in our other activities. The key concerns are the social and personal development of young people in Tower Hamlets; focusing more on young people that are vulnerable from negative peer groups.

Main Activities

• After school club/youth club provision for 10-16 year olds
• Holiday provision for young people
• Adult and Youth football (league games and free coaching)
• Entry to local, regional and national football tournaments
• Volunteering Programme and Work Experience
• Accredited and Non-Accredited training courses and learning opportunities
• Educational and recreational day trips and visits
• Residentials to UK and Europe

Our Members

Newark is a membership led organisation and has over 150 members from all over Tower Hamlets and the neigbouring boroughs. Our members are disadvantaged young people through no fault of their own because of poverty, high unemployment, overcrowding, poor schooling, lack of open spaces and recreational opportunities. We aim to give all young people the chance of a positive future by helping them to learn in ways that motivate and stretch them and enable them to achieve; engage in positive developmental activities; make informed choices about their lives and benefit from high-quality, targeted support before problems escalate. Newark provides young people life experiences which they may never have. The organisation regularly takes part in football leagues and competitions with much of the work carried out by volunteers who have progressed through the football teams and the volunteering programme.

Our Trustees

Newark has a management committee made up of past and present users of our services. The management committee encourages young people to join so we are able to deliver services they need. The management committee is elected every year at the AGM. Our Development The organisation has gone through major changes in the last 5 years. We have diversified our activities and have become a stronger youth organisation to meet the holistic needs of local young people. Our Success and Sustainability The success of Newark can be attributed to its inclusiveness and welcoming environment. Members feel they are part of a larger family and many continue their affiliation even after using the service of the organisation. Most importantly the majority of the success is credited to Newark members own personal contribution, dedication and time. All the work is done by members on a voluntary basis and does not rely on paid staff to deliver all its activities. The organisation has built up a good relation with the local community and cares deeply about the development of young people. This is also recognised by other individuals, organisations and businesses in the area. Newark football teams use and promote home grown players that come up through the ranks of the youth system. Gradually youth team players make it into the senior team. Opportunities do not always go to highest performing individuals but to young people who maintain discipline, improve and develop, value team and organisational ethics.

Principles of Success and Sustainability

• Always open and welcoming to all
• Giving equal opportunity to all
• Respecting people of all background and ability
• Committed and self less volunteers
• Service users always come back to volunteer
• Genuinely caring members wanting to support the development of young people and see it through
• Innovative, enterprising and pioneers
• Able to generate self income and not rely on external fudning Members feel part of a family
• Members loyalty, passion and love for the organisation
• Members strongly believe in the values and ethics of the organisation

Our Funding

For large parts of its history Newark was self funded but in recent years has started fundraising from charitable trusts and foundations and is now successfully delivering all types of projects that are beneficial to the young people and other residents.