Mayor announces major funding boost for mentors in pupil referral units

• Sadiq’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) invests £2.3 million to expand mentoring in pupil referral unit
• Support for mentoring is a critical element of the Mayor’s approach to tackling violence
• New funding means mentoring programme will feature in schools in all 32 London boroughs for the first time
• Builds on pupil referral units (PRU’s) and alternative provisions reporting that mentoring has supported improved attendance and reduced incidents
• Since the VRU was established in 2019, there has been a 23% reduction in homicides, a 25% reduction in knife crime with injury where victims were aged under 25, and a 25% reduction in gun crime.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is investing £2.3 million to expand dedicated mentoring support in pupil referral units in every London borough.

Mentors embedded in pupil referral units or in alternative provision settings work closely with young people vulnerable to being affected by exploitation and violence, supporting them to re-engage with education and school where evidence shows they are safer. The VRU’s mentoring programme provides one-to-one and group mentoring for young people aged 11-18 who have been excluded from mainstream school or are at risk of exclusion from education. This is a critical element of the Mayor’s approach to tackling violence.

Between September 2022 and July 2024, more than 1,500 young people across 22 boroughs were supported by mentors funded by the VRU.

Over these two academic years, 82 per cent of pupil referral units and alternative provision settings reported improved attendance in young people mentored. All schools with a mentor reported that young people developed improved relationships with peers and teaching staff, whilst 86 per cent of PRUs saw reductions in reported behavioural incidents.

To build on this impact, the VRU, which was set up and is majority funded by the Mayor of London, has invested a further £2.3m to expand the mentoring programme to cover all 32 boroughs for the next two years. It delivers on the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to invest in mentors in pupil referral units and means a further 2,200 young people will get mentoring support to boost engagement and attendance in school in order to be safe and away from violence.

Today’s announcement also forms a key part of London’s Inclusion Charter, established by the VRU in February this year to tackle rising suspensions, exclusions and persistent absenteeism. Almost all London boroughs have now signed up to the principles of the Charter, joined by 20 national charities including Barnardo’s, Mission44, The Difference and The Children’s Society. Backed up by the Mayor’s £1.4m investment in a partnership with UNICEF UK, more than 500 schools are now embedding inclusive practices and children’s rights for 94,000 young Londoners.

Since Sadiq’s election as Mayor in 2016, City Hall has invested more than £100m in London’s youth sector, and provided more than 500,000 positive opportunities for young Londoners, to help divert them from crime, including 350,000 through the VRU. Since the VRU was established in 2019, there has been a 23% reduction in homicides, a 25% reduction in knife crime with injury where victims were aged under 25, and a 25% reduction in gun crime.

Earlier today, the Mayor joined VRU director, Lib Peck, in a visit to Orchardside School in Enfield to see how mentors are working to support young people to increase school attendance and boost opportunities in further education or into employment. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am committed to investing in young people and giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential and to thrive in our great city.

“Key to that is education and being in school where we know young people are safe and supported to develop and grow.

“That’s why my Violence Reduction Unit is investing in more youth clubs and supporting the life-changing role that youth workers and mentors play in our schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision settings and communities to divert young people away from violence and towards opportunity as part of my work building a safer London for everyone.”  

Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “We firmly believe that young people are safer in school, whether that’s mainstream, in a pupil referral unit, or in alternative provision. It’s often education that provides the platform for young people to build strong relationships and a path towards opportunity.

“It’s here where the role of a trusted adult relationship can have real impact on a young person’s life. Every day, mentors, working in partnership alongside teachers, are making a difference. Whether that’s inspiring a young person to reconnect with the power of learning, supporting them to improve their mental health, or helping them overcome barriers to attending school.

“Over the last two years we’ve seen the real impact in our pupil referral unit mentoring programme is having on young Londoners. That’s why we’re boosting funding to expand mentoring right across London to give young people the support they need.”  

J Grange was excluded from school and went to a pupil referral unit. He is now a member of the VRU’s Young People’s Action Group.

He said: “My school experience was challenging. I faced permanent exclusions from two mainstream schools and often felt misunderstood. However, attending a PRU changed everything for me. The environment there, where teachers truly understood and supported me and allowed me to thrive.

“It became a major turning point in my life and set the foundation for my achievements as an internationally recognised public speaker and neurodiversity advocate. It’s also led to incredible opportunities, such as being involved with the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit.

“Through my work with the VRU, I’ve visited many PRUs across London, engaging with young people about the transformative power of mentoring. It’s inspiring to see how this initiative is helping young people realise their potential and giving them opportunity to thrive.”

Celeste Fay, headteacher at Orchardside school, a pupil referral unit in Enfield, said: “Everyone at Orchardside is a mentor to our learners. Mentoring shapes all our relationships with our students. It drives personal growth, builds skills, knowledge, and an understanding of themselves and their relationships with others.

“Our approach to mentoring evolves around continuous positive regard and nurturing attachments. Reinforcing the messages that they have a stake in society and in their lives, mentoring at our school is about agency, responsibility, and personal growth.”

Lewis Ball, a VRU-funded mentor at Orchardside school, said: “As well as being a space to work through thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, mentoring to me is one of the best opportunities for students to play. Pressure to act like an adult amongst their peers combined with tough home environments means lots of young people haven’t had enough time to do this, but when given the opportunity, the impact on their wellbeing is significant.”

Charlie, a Year 10 student at Orchardside, said: “I really enjoy my mentoring sessions, whenever I am having a bad day or annoyed, my mentor helps me by telling good jokes and doing a fun activity with me such as bike riding, football, and table tennis. The mentoring sessions have helped me improve my behaviour and created a thinking space for me to reflect and change my ways.”

Nkechi Simms, an actor who attended PRUs in London from the age of 12, said: “I bounced around from one PRU to another when I was younger, and I remember feeling written off. I’m really pleased that the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit is expanding dedicated mentoring to young people who have been excluded from school. This will provide proper support when they need it most, and set them up for a brighter future.”

Christian Foley, poet in residence for PRUs/alternative educational provisions in east London, said: “I have worked with young people who have been excluded from school for many years, and their strength and creativity inspires me on a daily basis. Rolling out mentoring to pupils in PRUs across the capital will be transformational, so I’m delighted to support the Mayor’s announcement.”