Greater London Enterprise Awards 2024

Many of the young people Goal 17 works with are at risk of unemployment, homelessness, and social isolation. Without a stable support system, they often struggle to navigate the transition to adulthood. Goal 17 addresses this gap by pairing them with volunteer mentors, who offer practical guidance, emotional support, and encouragement. “Our goal is to ensure every disadvantaged young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” says Founder, Fran Boorman. “We create meaningful social mobility through mentorship, empowering young people to overcome challenges and build sustainable futures.” Life-Changing Mentorship: Goal 17 has made a significant impact by mobilising over 400 volunteer mentors in the past year. Mentors come from diverse backgrounds, offering stability and hope to young people who often lack a trusted adult figure. Whether helping with life skills like budgeting or offering emotional support, these relationships foster growth, confidence, and independence. “For many young people, this is the first time they’ve had an adult in their life who cares without being paid to do so,” Fran explains. “That sense of trust is transformative.” In addition to mentorship, Goal 17’s network opens doors to internships, job placements, and skill-building workshops. These opportunities help disadvantaged young people access resources they wouldn’t otherwise have, further improving their long-term prospects. Corporate Sponsorship: A Win-Win: While Goal 17’s impact on young lives is clear, the organisation’s mentoring programmes also offer businesses a unique opportunity to meet their social responsibility goals. As companies increasingly focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies, Goal 17 provides a powerful way for corporate sponsors to make a tangible social impact. By sponsoring a mentoring programme, businesses can fulfil their corporate social responsibility commitments while directly benefiting disadvantaged young people. Staff can also volunteer as mentors, gaining valuable personal and professional skills in the process. Mentoring offers employees a chance to broaden their perspectives, improve leadership abilities, and become more engaged with their communities. Beyond Mentoring: Raising Awareness and Driving Social Change: Goal 17’s impact extends beyond mentoring. The programme also serves as a powerful tool for educating the wider public about the challenges disadvantaged young people face. Mentors often become champions and ambassadors within their communities, using their experiences to foster greater understanding and empathy for some of society’s most excluded young people. By sharing these stories, mentors help raise awareness and drive change, encouraging others to get involved and support these young people. Scaling for Greater Impact: Looking ahead, Goal 17 is expanding its reach to support even more young people. The organisation recently secured a contract with the Mayor of London to create a digital mentoring academy that aims to give 100,000 disadvantaged young Londoners access to quality mentors. This partnership reflects the measurable success of Goal 17’s approach, which has helped 7 in 10 participants find new pathways to education, training, or employment. The organisation’s financial model, which does not rely on grants or donations, ensures sustainability and supports its long-term vision of providing mentorship to thousands more disadvantaged youths across the UK. The Leadership Behind the Mission: Goal 17’s achievements are driven by the leadership of its founder, Fran Boorman. Her personal experiences and passion for addressing social inequalities are at the heart of Goal 17’s success. Under her guidance, the organisation has grown tenfold and established itself as a leader in creating sustainable social impact through mentoring. A Call to Action: As Goal 17 scales its operations, it invites corporate sponsors to join its mission of transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people. By becoming a sponsor, businesses can contribute to closing the gaps in society while fulfilling their own ESG objectives. “We’re creating lasting change—one young person at a time,” Fran concludes. “But we need more corporate partners and volunteers to help us expand our reach and ensure every disadvantaged young person has the support they need.” For more information on becoming a sponsor or volunteer, visit www. goal17.global. Contact: Fran Boorman Company: Goal 17 Ltd Web Address: https://www.goal17.global/ Goal 17 Ltd, recognised as the Best Mentoring Programme Firm in Greater London for 2024, is at the forefront of addressing the challenges faced by disadvantaged young people. The organisation’s mentoring programmes provide critical support to vulnerable youths, including Care Leavers, young people facing economic hardship, and those from underrepresented backgrounds. Best Mentoring Programmes Firm 2024 - Central London Goal 17: Transforming Lives Through Mentorship for Disadvantaged Young People

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