Juvenis

Juvenis, a grassroots organisation in Lambeth whose vision is a future where all young Londoners have more than one chance to fulfil their potential

Grant awarded £30,000 a year for 3 years: 2022-2025 - unrestricted; Cost of Living uplift grant in Year 2: £2,370; £20,000 for 2025-2026 - unrestricted

Juvenis is a youth charity in Lambeth led by its Founder, Winston Goode, working with children and young people experiencing multiple challenges, including those within the criminal justice system and /or Children's Social Care, referred to Juvenis by the Local Authority. A committed team of highly trained specialist staff, peer mentors and those with lived experience deliver the work across the organisation including:

  • incubating two projects for women and girls - Project YANA that works with young women and girls including those who have experienced domestic violence and abuse lead by Jenni Steele, plus Ebinehita Iyere’s Milk Honey Bees programme, a creative and expressive safe space for Black girls to flourish and put H.E.R (Healing, Empowerment and Resilience) first. Milk Honey Bees has also published a book called Girlhood Unfiltered.
  • ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) Youth Practitioners who go into primary and secondary schools, supporting young people with transitions with mentoring and early intervention.
  • YPAR (Young People at Risk) Senior Practitioners, who work in supported accommodation services devoted to young males who are vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
  • Organisational Research - in the last couple of years, Juvenis published two research reports (See Us – Hear Us, plus The Life of a Top Boy) sharing the voices and experiences of young Black girls and boys/young men in Lambeth. 

The Peter Minet Trust values who we are; they know we’ll do what we say we’re going to do.  They are thorough, honest and transparent - They have a human approach....I know it’s not just about the money they give us and it’s not a one-way street. I feel I can be authentic …and share if there’s problem we’re working on, without panicking - Winston Good, CEO

 Winston’s reflections on funding 

  • Trust - charity leaders are experts. Take the time to get to know us – listening to us and engaging with our research is the best way to understand the impact we are making.
  • Unrestricted, multi-year grants - for a minimum of five years. We commit long-term to our young people, and funders must do the same with us – trust us to know how best to use the funding.
  • Open doors to policy leaders. Help us share our expertise and influence so we can continue professionalising the youth work sector.
  • Open doors to other funders. Collaborate with other funders to make local funding more accessible and easier to navigate, while reducing duplication of events and peer networks.

Blog: The Power of Trust - Juvenis and Peter Minet Trust 

Read Juvenis research here:

See Us, Hear Us. On girlhood and growing up Black in Lambeth 

The Life of a Top Boy. On trauma and violence in the community 

Juvenis website