It doesn't matter where you come from.
You belong here.
Our organisation is built on five principles: Equity, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. These are the standards our team holds itself to every single day in Newham.
Our six commitments
What we actually do, not just what we believe.
Everyone gets treated fairly here
Who you are, where you grew up and what is going on in your life does not change how you are treated by our team. Every young person gets the same dignity and respect. Our organisation works hard to keep discrimination out of everything we do. That includes how we run sessions, who we bring onto our team and the decisions we make day to day.
We celebrate every part of who you are
Your culture, language, faith, identity and background are not things to push to one side. They are exactly what makes you interesting and valuable. Our community is stronger because of the different experiences young people bring and we want you to feel genuinely welcome as yourself.
We remove the barriers so you can get involved
Our organisation looks at what actually stops young people from joining in and we deal with it. That might mean keeping costs low, adjusting how sessions run for someone with a disability or simply making sure our communication is clear and reaches people. Nobody should miss out on something we could have fixed.
We speak up about inequality and act on it
Some young people have a much harder starting point than others. Our team does not pretend otherwise. We challenge unfair practices wherever we find them, including the ones that are quietly built into systems and policies rather than showing up in obvious ways.
A space where you can grow and feel good
When you feel genuinely seen and included you do better in every sense. You get more out of sessions, you develop more as a person and your wellbeing improves. That is not a side effect of what our organisation does. It is the whole reason we do it.
We want you to take this out into the world
Experiencing fairness here is just the start. Our team wants to help young people build the confidence and the values to carry that out into their communities. To speak up, look out for others and make things better wherever they go.
What is the difference between equality and equity?
Equality
Treating everyone the same. Giving every young person the same resources, the same access and the same opportunity. It is a good starting point but it is not always enough on its own.
Equity
Recognising that some young people start from a much harder place and need more support to reach the same point. Equity means giving people what they actually need rather than just the same thing as everyone else.
We aim for both.
We treat everyone fairly and we give extra support to the young people who need it most. That is not favouritism. That is what it actually takes to make things genuinely fair.
Our doors are open to every young person. No exceptions.
Our team actively reaches out to young people who often get left out of mainstream provision. That includes young people who are homeless, young mothers, young people dealing with disabilities or mental health challenges, care leavers and young people from refugee or asylum seeking backgrounds.
If any of that sounds like you or someone you know, you are exactly who we are here for. Any nationality, any faith, any gender, any background. You are welcome.
Something does not feel right? Tell us.
If you or someone you know has been treated unfairly, experienced discrimination or feels excluded from our organisation for any reason, please tell us. Our team takes every concern seriously and will always respond properly. Everything is handled in confidence.
Email us at info@youthactivecic.org or speak to any member of our team at a session.