A wave of enthusiasm By Caleb Jackson and John Warburton
Enthusiasm is a charity dedicated to helping young people from deprived backgrounds turn their lives around.
parents with substance addiction, mental ill-health, and histories of domestic violence are common.
‘We aim to break the cycle of deprivation and give young people a more positive life experience.
Every year, around 5,000 people are referred to the organisation. These are youngsters who have been excluded from school and are on the periphery of the criminal justice system, with a real danger that they could soon be lost to a future of anti-social behaviour and crime.
Founded in 1992, Enthusiasm works by bringing these young people face to face with an adult who believes in them.
‘We challenge their thinking and behaviour and encourage them to be more involved with their community.
Through a combination of 1-2-1 mentoring and support the charity helps the children to break the negative cycle of behaviour, beliefs and associations which invariably lead to a life of poverty and lifelong problems.
‘Some of the young people we work with are on the periphery of gangs and are looking for a sense of belonging. We offer them a support network often missing at home.’
Many young people Enthusiasm works with come from problem families -
21 Equilibrium | Magazine
Caleb Jackson, the leader of the Manchester arm of Enthusiasm, said:
When young people are excluded from schools, they attend a Pupil Referral Unit