SHINE: Support and Help in Education - City Year - Trialling the innovative City Year volunteering programme in inner city London.

City Year London

At SHINE, we're always looking out for interesting, innovative projects to support. Take City Year – an American initiative that is now starting up in the UK. It places teams of 17-24 year old volunteers into schools in disadvantaged areas for a year. In return for training, mentoring and a small stipend, the volunteers, help teachers, support students and manage structured, academically focused after-school activities.

Starting off in six Shoreditch primary schools, the volunteers will help around 2,000 pupils in their first year alone. City Year then plans to move into secondary schools before eventually rolling out across the country. City Year already has an impressive track record in both the US and South Africa, so we expect great things (no pressure).

The grant recipient

City Year Inc. was established in Boston in the 1980s and currently works across 19 US cities and in Johannesburg. The City Year programme takes young people (aged 17-24 years) from all backgrounds for a year of full-time service in schools in low income communities. City Year London has been set up to translate and trial delivery of the City Year project model in the UK.

The City Year programme

What it aims to do

replicate the City Year programme in Shoredith, London
provide new, structured and meaningful volunteering opportunities for young people, including those not in education, employment or training
develop the leadership, project management, communication and employability skills of young volunteers
provide long term, focused academic support for 850 primary children who are at risk of falling behind in school and to work with nearly 2,000 children after school

How it works

City Year London will recruit, train and provide ongoing support to 60 volunteers. They will be placed full time in six schools in the Shoreditch area of London, which covers Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and the City of London.

The volunteers will deliver three programmes:

Whole School, Whole Child - in-class academic support, school wide programmes to get children excited about learning (eg. mentoring and parent projects) and after-school programmes
Youth Leadership programmes
Volunteer service in the community

Results

City Year data from their current work shows measureable gains in the literacy, numeracy, behaviour and attendance of children in specific City Year schools. Students in Boston, New Orleans and Philadelphia have moved their academic performance from below to above the level expected for their age. Schools in all areas have also reported an improved school climate, attendance or behaviour. City Year can demonstrate a strong track record in exit opportunities for volunteers. The South Africa project has the best results, seeing 90% of volunteers into further education or employment a term after graduation.

The funding

SHINE has made a grant to City Year London to contribute to the set up and delivery costs for the programme in the UK. Other funding is being provided by the KPMG Foundation, the Mayor's Fund for London, the Private Equity Foundationand other trusts.

Funding: Ł300,000 to City Year London, over three years (2009-12)

Visit the City Year website: http://www.cityyear.org/

"City Year has delivered for us. It is one of the brightest and most worthwhile programs - and one of the most effective programs we have. And it is effective because it is young people reaching out to young people."

Superintendent for Education, New Orleans

"90% of alumni reported that their City Year experience contributed to their ability to lead others, work as part of a team and work with people from diverse backgrounds."