LVN believes that it takes a village to raise a child. In helping professionals volunteer an hour of their time, we bring components of the village community together to make a change to the lives of vulnerable young people.
BBC Radio London
Our Story
LVN is a grassroots organisation set up in 2014. Founder Rachael Box and a team of volunteers worked with over 300 young people to create a series of programmes that put young people in control.
Developing the LVN Model: Evidence based design
LVN worked with behaviour scientists at Ogilvy Change and educationalists to create programs that maximise the benefit of one hour of time – we call this The Power of an Hour.
Although one hour might not seem much, our theory of change states that an average of 10 interactions between a young person and professional adults outside their usual network is enough to change their life path.
We have worked extensively with tutors and students at City & Islington college. As a result, feedback and collaboration from young people has informed the development of our programmes and services.
Candi students have collaborated with LVN on many projects including testing and creating an advertisement of the app and putting on community events. Read the full article here.
“Countering network poverty as a precursor to gang membership: bridging and social capital through temporary migration research and practice” – LVN CEO Rachael Box & Robert F. Hesketh, Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University. Paper available here
Our Values
We unite: We inspire the community to join behind young adults.
We are compassionate: At LVN everyone matters. We do not judge, everyone is accepted, and we nurture individual needs.
We are innovative: We look for smart solutions in everything we do. We are agile, imaginative and dynamic.
We are bold: We liberate thinking, challenge bias and build resilience. Everyone has the ability to be courageous.
We are optimistic: We offer everyone inspiration and hope.
Our Guiding Principles
We are practical:
We focus on action.
We maximise technology and resources.
We prepare young adults with life skills.
We are fair:
We address inequality, injustice and bias.
We expose opportunities and pathways.
We make industry knowledge accessible.
We are encouraging:
We celebrate the talents of everyone.
We instil the power of self-belief and the art of the possible.
We focus on the positive and turn I can’t into I can.
We are inclusive:
We invite everyone to participate, contribute and benefit.
We collaborate, networking is our DNA.
The Need for LVN
“Countering network poverty as a precursor to gang membership: bridging and social capital through temporary migration research and practice” – LVN CEO Rachael Box & Robert F. Hesketh, Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University. Paper available here.
Young People in Poverty: 50% of the poorest young people are in 20% of the worst performing schools.
It’s who you know that counts: Only 3 in every 10 Jobs are advertised (Pre-Covid) – 85% of vacancies filled by networking.
Single Parents time poor: London has the highest rate of single parents
Too many young people left behind: London: 60,000 aged 16–24-year-olds are NEET
Young people with nowhere to go: 2012-16: 600 youth centres closed; 3,500 youthwork jobs cut and 140,000 young person places cut
Youth mental health issues increasing: 50% of mental health problems established by age 14, 75% by age 24
Prison population too young: England: 25% of prison inmates are aged 20-25 at a cost of £40,000 per annum for each inmate
Many of the young people we work with live in overcrowded accommodation. LVN endeavour to open up community venues to create a constructive space for young people to learn.
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