A Mentoring service for young people at risk of serious youth violence

Overview

Due to the expiry of an existing contract, the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is advertising to seek tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for the provision of Mentoring Service for Young People at Risk of Serious Youth Violence. The new contract is expected to run for a period of two (2) years commencing 1st April 2026 and may be extended for a further one (1) year subject to funding and providers performance (at the sole discretion of the Council). The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (LBBD) requires mentoring services for young people aged 11-25 at risk of gang affiliation, vulnerable to gang exploitation. LBBD continues to experience increasing levels of gang activity and entrants into the criminal justice system. Our aim is to better support young people who may be more susceptible to exploitation and provide them with intensive support to move away from criminal activities and be able to access employment and training opportunities. The mentoring service will provide support to young people aged 11-25 at risk of gang affiliation, vulnerable to gang exploitation who have been referred by the Youth Offending Service. They will link the young people with education, training and employment opportunities. Not all young people learn or develop in the same way, and mentoring provides a tailored approach to help each young person with their individual needs and goals. The Mentors will develop a professional relationship with the mentee so they can offer support and deter these young people from youth violence.