Oak London

At Oak London we offer a residential and mentoring programme for young men aged 18+ who have faced significant challenges. We support them to choose positive paths and forge hope-filled futures by building a strong support network around them. We only work with six young men on each programme, intentionally keeping it small so that our work is participant-centred and tailored to the individual. This has a greater and longer lasting impact.

We offer a 5 step programme:

  • Enrolment: Getting to know the young man, assessing their suitability for the programme, and completing safeguarding checks.
  • Residential: 4-5 days away at Trinity College Bristol. Each day starts with a 7am run and involves workshops, activities and cooking meals together. The workshops are based around ‘What is means to be a man’, ‘Forgiveness and reconciliation’ and ‘Our stories’.
  • Follow up: Weekly sessions for 6 weeks. The workshops develop upon the themes explored on the residential and include ‘Goal-setting’, ‘Addressing trauma’, ‘Relationships’, ‘Money management’, ‘Faith and life’, and ‘Planning the community project’.
  • Community Project: A chance to give back. This is participant organised and led.
  • Mentoring: On-going 1-1 support for 1 year.

The name ‘Oak London’ is taken from Isaiah 61 which speaks of the afflicted, broken-hearted, oppressed, prisoners and those who mourn as ‘oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord’.  The vision is not simply to see young men move from lives of crime into work, but to see long lasting and substantial transformation in the way they relate to themselves, others and the world. The programme will support these young men both to escape negative lifestyles and to develop structures and disciplines that enable them to live as constructive members of society. Subsequently aiding them to become leaders of restoration and transformation in their communities.  The project is faith based which informs staff practice, course design and organisational decision making, but it is not faith biased; there is no requirement for religious or faith backgrounds for participants, though openness and acceptance of the vision is necessary.

Each pilot costs £8K, so we are hoping to raise £24K and would like to invite you to become a pioneer funder in one of the following ways:

  • Volunteer as a mentor for one of the young men who has completed the programme.
  • Give as an individual. If you would like to donate, please click here
  • Link your church as a supporter of Oak London.
  • Hold a fundraiser.
  • Explore whether your workplace could become a partner of Oak London through their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

If you would like to get in touch and have any questions or ideas, please contact Jos Lucas at oakldn@gmail.com

oaklondon.co.uk

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