Advantage Programme

We supported a pilot of the Advantage programme, a mentoring programme designed to support young people aged 14-21 years-old through collaboration with the charity Advantage, the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Palace for Life Foundation, the official Crystal Palace FC Charity.

10 young people (14-21 years-old) were supported between April 2022 to November 2022. By focusing on helping to re-establish aspirations and a sense of connection, young people receive ongoing individual mentoring support for up to six months from trained youth workers who are in turn supported by a CAMHS practitioner through weekly supervision. 3 young people that completed the programme through Palace for Life agreed to contribute to a wider evaluation of the Advantage programme run by the Anna Freud Centre. Positive improvements were seen in outcomes including; better functioning, decrease in stress levels, improved mental well-being and progress on achieving agreed goals. Young people were also signposted to other Palace for Life programmes to continue their development and support in-line with their needs and interests.

“The Advantage programme pilot in Croydon enabled us to test out our approach in a new area with amazing impact. We know the level of need locally and glad we could deliver something innovative that has been extended beyond the initial pilot to support even more young people! Seven clubs are delivering on the programme currently. There are 14 in London Advantage could potentially be working with.”

Konrad Deckers Dowber, Managing Director, Advantage Mentoring CIC