Young People Matter (YPM) is an award winning charity and community action group bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to nurture children’s potential, promote healthy living and develop a greater sense of social responsibility.
Challenge
At the age of 22, our inspirational Founder and CEO Kemi Folarin, set up Young People Matter in the Stockwell area of London as a response to the shooting of Billy Cox in 2007.
After asking young people in the area about what activities we could provide to keep them safe, we went onto…. [e.g. set up our first after school club…other business activities etc]
Our challenge was to finance a growth strategy that would enable us to open one new after-school club each year and generate enough income to subsidise access for children and families in less affluent areas and ultimately help more children grow up to avoid violence.
We believe that children and adults flourish in an environment in which everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or held back by anyone else.
Solution
The social investment was used to open a new income generating after school club at Elm Wood Primary School (part of the Gipsy Hill Federation) in January 20. Although payments for our after-school clubs are received upfront, the Board & CEO decided to bolster our working capital buffer through a £60,000 standby facility, drawn as an unsecured loan, from CAF Venturesome.
We now offer a variety of in-school services to children and young people from 4 to 21 years. These include breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, holiday camps, junior and youth clubs as well a variety of inter-generational community projects and lone parenting aid.
Revenue model: selling goods to individuals, B2C
By running clubs in more affluent areas of South London, where parents can afford to pay for places, we are able to offer subsidised/free places in areas of greater social need.
Impact
It has so far been a great opportunity to work with CAF Venturesome. Social investment has given us financial security as well as access to additional support.
– Kemi Folarin CEO
We're proud to support YPM to reach their aim of nurturing young people to respect themselves and others within their community and beyond.
– CAF Venturesome