Preloader Close
Established in 2011, Carneys aims to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing of the most vulnerable and excluded young people aged 11-30 years in and around Wandsworth, London. Our young people face the inequity of more challenging life experiences relating to finance, home life, mental and physical health, paired with less access to the systems to support their wellbeing. We work with young people who live in poverty, have family issues including substance misuse, domestic abuse and in the care system. They are faced with an inadequate system of statutory support, lack of facilities to support wellbeing and a lack of finances to access paid services. People living in Wandsworth live at society’s extremes, with some of the wealthiest people in the UK living opposite some of the UK’s most deprived communities, it has nearly the highest level of income inequality in London and one of only three where income inequality has increased in recent years. This creates a serious disconnect, with young people often not feeling part of the community in which they live and statutory support often missing these pockets of high deprivation.
The support we offer is based on the Cycle of Change, a tool commonly used in social work. This model recognises that individuals will engage in support when they are ready, so we aim to be a long term consistent presence, building trusting relationships in preparation for when they’re ready to make a change (known as the “teachable moment” or the “contemplation stage”). The model also demonstrates that steps may be taken backward as well as forward but, with the opportunity to learn what has or has not worked for each step, that the overall trajectory is an upward spiral. Our support for our young people doesn’t have an end point, once someone becomes a part of Carney’s Community they are always a part, but we help people go from being the ones needing support to the ones that are able to support others. Our approach is that that those with same lived experience provide the best role models for the young people. And so we support our participants to become volunteers and paid staff members, employing them as coaches, mentors and key workers so that they can support young people to make positive life decisions, despite the challenges they face.
Carney's Community Impact Report 2024
Carney’s Community exits to support all young people, but primary focus is to support those who face poverty , are in the care system, impacted by gun and knife crime, families misusing substances, domestic abuse and many who have been excluded from school or involved in the criminal justice system.
Case Studies
Story 1
I first went to Carney’s in 2016, but didn’t get really involved until 2022. As a kid I was often neglected, with not much support from other family or the community. I was excluded from school, in and out of care, and had people taking advantage of me. A social services referral said this was exploitation and I was the victim of child slavery. To deal with past trauma I relied on substances, which made me very emotional, upset and angry.
I got involved with Carney’s because I was arrested for some serious offences and needed some extra help, so I was given a key worker. Carney’s worked with me in the community and helped me see how I was being exploited, came up with a safety plan and I was able to completely shut the exploiters out of my life.
I’d see or speak to my Key worker every day and started going to the boxing at Carney’s and volunteered at fit and fed. Over time I got more involved and started to feel part of a community. And I wanted to improve my own life, to be the best I could be. So Carney’s supported me to get a job at Feel Good Bakery. It wasn’t easy at first, but when I needed help I now knew where to go, Carney’s was there to help me. At the end of my one year contract with them they asked me to deliver a customer services course to the other employees. In January my key worker introduced me to a media company and helped me apply for a job with them. I was offered a full time job as a Business Executive, which is going really well.
Now I’m able to help others. I’ve been working with Wandsworth Children Living in Care Kouncil, interviewing candidates for council jobs. I’ve volunteered at lots of Carney’s Fundraising events and at their main sessions, representing the charity and putting my networking skills to good use.
Story 2
I started at Carney’s in 2021 because I got arrested and so the YOT brought me down to Carney’s. I got excluded from school and wasn’t getting on with my family very well, I kept having arguments. I got involved in the boxing sessions at Carney’s and loved it. I did the bike workshop course and because I finished it I got given a free bike. I used to get angry really easily, but now I’ve learnt how to control my emotions and become more mature. I wanted to do better in life, so Carney’s put me on a personal training course and I got involved in volunteering at the sessions. After a year of volunteering, just before I turned 18, I got applied for and got a job at Carney’s as a boxing coach. I’ve learnt so much from Carney’s, I wish there were more places like this. Because of all the support I got, I’m now able to help other people.
Story 3
I was 12 when I started coming to Carney’s. I walked past Providence when Carney’s was doing a pop up session there. I’d already been doing kick boxing, so was keen to get involved in Carney’s Boxing sessions. At school I wasn’t the best student, but I wasn’t the worst. I was able to use boxing as an outlet and it helped me be less angry. When I was training for my black belt in kick boxing Carney’s helped me train and did some one to one sessions with me. People might think that cause they’re a community club it means the boxing isn’t that good, but Carney’s really helped me become a better boxer, improved my stamina and I got my kick boxing black belt.
Carney’s gave me a focus, I was able to be myself and learn different things. And it gave me a place to go after school that stopped me from doing things I shouldn’t be. I stepped out of my comfort zone and became more sociable.
Carney’s also helps people with jobs and I’ve been offered support with getting a job or training. It’s great that lots of the people working at Carney’s are the ones that used to be young people, it shows the younger ones how you can change your life. For me now, I’m going back to college in September and I’ve been getting involved in volunteering at Carney’s.
Story 4
I grew up in London, but at 15 I got into trouble, was stabbed and so my parents sent me to live with family in Africa. I came back to London when I turned 18 and moved in with my Grandma, but it didn’t work out and she gave me one week to find somewhere else to live. So I turned to Carney’s for help. I didn’t have any work, wasn’t in school or uni and didn’t have many places or people to turn to. I felt isolated and my mental health got bad.
Carney’s helped me find options for places I could live and over time helped me improve my relationship with my family and so my cousin let me move in with him. I got involved in the boxing at Carney’s which helped with my mental health and they made sure to put a dinner aside for me when I came and often gave me spare food to take home. Because of all of this my confidence improved, I got a job and starting applying for uni.
I worked with Carneys on an application for a grant and got £3,000 to put towards getting a qualification. One of the judges was so impressed by me that he offered me a decent job with training. All of this was possible because of Carney’s.
Story 5
We first met X at his school, where our Head Coach delivered the Boxing Toolkit: sessions that help disengaged young people engage more at school and improve their physical and mental health. Before starting, X was getting into trouble at school, was often late and had difficult relationships with his peers, resulting in a few fights and a risk of exclusion.
After the Boxing Toolkit ended X started attending the boxing sessions at Carney’s. He has become one of our most consistent young people, training 5 days a week, and is always willing to help others in the sessions. Due to an injury he took one week off and in that week realised the difference that training had on his mental health. X won Carney’s award for consistency in training, completed a sports course with us and volunteered at the Battersea Summer Scheme. His attitude has completely changed, he has goals and a plan for his future now, he wants to compete for Fitzroy Lodge and become a professional boxer. And things have even changed at school. His focus has improved, he arrives on time and with new confidence knows he doesn’t need to prove himself in an altercation, so will avoid a fight. He’s learnt how to let his anger out in the gym, so it doesn’t surface elsewhere.
X said, “Carney’s is an amazing place for me to make friends and learn to box which makes me feel good about myself. It’s made me more confident and focussed. It makes me feel good after I leave knowing I’ve had a good workout. The youth workers and coaches are always helpful and are always there when I need them. The food is good, and I’ve made new friends.’’
Story 6
X has been coming to Carney’s for 7 years, first visiting us to use our music studio. At 15 he survived being shot from a random attack, leading to anxiety, panic attacks and very little time outside the house. We visited him in hospital the day after the attack and then continued to visit him at home. From this we could see the family were in need of extra support, so worked with them on an action plan to improve their living situation, get mental health support and arranged for their living room to be decorated for free by Good Guys Decorating.
Following a lot of support X eventually became comfortable leaving the house, got back into education, started attending Carney’s and another youth centre and completed a course on Customer Service. But whilst travelling to and from the course he was stopped and searched by the police for no reason, in the midst of the George Floyd incident. He felt angry and harassed, so came and spoke to us. We arranged several conversations with the police in which X presented himself very well, speaking accurately to what happened and its impact on him. This resulted in an apology from the police and the opportunity to meet trainee police officers to help educate them on the impact of stop and search.
Later on, X asked us for support with his business idea of a T-shirt printing company. But at Carney’s we always ask how our young people can give back to the community when they’re able. So, X’s idea evolved into workshops for youth centres, telling his story and working with young people to design a t-shirt with a positive message. He won an award to start up the business and delivered his first workshop in December 2021. This improved his confidence and since then he secured work, learnt to drive, passed an electrician course and started a full time apprenticeship as an electrician.
X recognised the connection between his physical and mental health and so trains regularly at Carney’s, he continues to be part of our community and wants to see how he can also support others. When asked how he would describe Carney’s to a friend, he said: “You learn a lot of life skills and things like employability skills. They also help with advice, a bit like counselling. I’d also say how good it is for fitness and whatever you want help with, they can do it. They are really good for improving mental and physical health.”