Children and young people in Barnet are set to benefit from two “gamechanging” mentoring and activities contracts, worth a combined £600,000, which have been awarded to The Barnet Group.

The contracts, which were awarded by the council’s early intervention and prevention programme, mean that The Barnet Group can further develop its whole youth engagement programme.  This announcement comes in the week of International Youth Day, which was on 12 August.

The first contract is a peer-to-peer mentoring programme that will school pupils in mentoring their fellow students. The young people have decided to get involved because they have recognised their needs and aspirations can be supported through the programme.

Picture shows Emmanuel Bondo from Finchley trying out the desk of DJ Academy’s mobile DJ in Watling Park, Burnt Oak. This was the first event of the new activities programme.

The second contract will provide a range of positive activities, including youth clubs, homework clubs, football tournaments, volunteering programmes. There will also be a range of workshops aimed at engaging and involving young people to become active citizens.

The Barnet Group will be working with a range of respected partners, including Nutmeg CommUNITY, Fairplay Barnet, DJ and MC Academy, Soundskool, Barnet Bulldogs, Barnet Community Projects and Barnet FC Community Trust. All of them have a successful track record in connecting with young people in Barnet.

Tracey Lees, The Barnet Group’s Chief Executive, said: “The contracts could be gamechangers for some of our young people. The end results will be improved self-esteem and confidence, a healthier lifestyle, less anti-social behaviour and better school results.

“This is more proof of the ever greater impact which The Barnet Group is making on life in Barnet. While providing good housing lies at our core, we do so much more by improving people’s lives.”

The contracts are the biggest to be won by the Group since it was created in February 2012.