“Engage, Empower, Transform…”

1A Headstone Drive, Wealdstone, HA3 5QX

Email:

Website: www.ignitetrust.org.uk

Tel: 020 8863 2089

Dear potential applicant,

Thank you for requesting more information and an application pack for the post ‘Female Youth Worker’. This letter is intended to give you further information about Ignite, the area in which we work, and the project for which this post will be working.

Ignite Trust

Ignite Trust was established in 2001 to work with at risk and vulnerable young people (aged 13-19) from disadvantaged backgrounds in Harrow. This group of people includes people connected to gang culture, people involved in criminal activity, those displaying high levels of risky sexual behaviour and young people lacking positive adult role models. We support them to develop positive relationships, increase their potential, make positive life choices, and play a fuller role in their communities. Our mission is to engage, empower and transform lives for the long-term by creating positive communities of change. We have a proven track record of success and currently deliver 18 projects in our community, engaging 640 young people at our two youth centres each month, and a further 844 young people in school workshops; totalling almost 1,500 young people each month.

Ignite is a charity run with a Christian heart and a Christian ethos. We work with young people who have a strong Christian faith, those who are asking questions and on a spiritual search, and those with no faith at all. We welcome young people regardless of their spirituality, whilst also seeking to provide a context where those who are interested can discover and explore the Christian faith. We strive to see transformation in the lives of the young people we work with, and believe that the greatest level of transformation is through relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are not interested in simply babysitting young people, but strive to see transformation in the lives of the young people we work with. Below is one example of this happening.

When Olly first attended sports sessions he was very aggressive, disruptive, and heavily involved in dealing drugs. Olly joined our activities during one school holiday, at which he talked honestly with workers about obstacles he faced; Olly expressed a desire to own a business. Having previously never suggested any inclination of future ambition, he says that when coming to Ignite he was ‘blown away by meeting people who had motivation and determination for their lives.’ Olly’s behaviour changed and he sought to positively influence other project participants. Olly’s increase in ambition motivated him to stop dealing drugs, deleting 580 drug dealing contact numbers. Youth workers are mentoring him to continue encouraging this transformation. He has consequently written a CV and handed over 20 out in search of legitimate employment.

Where we work – Harrow

Harrow is the most religiously diverse local authority in the UK; a diverse borough with 41 different ethnic groups and people from 137 countries. Levels of deprivation differ substantially with significant pockets of dispossesion within what is largely reported as a wealthy borough. Wealdstone and Rayners Lane are two of the most deprived Super Output Areas with the Rayners Lane Estate in the top 5% of deprived Local Super Output Areas nationally for income deprivation. These areas have the highest levels of anti-social behaviour and gang-related criminal activity in the Borough.

I hope this information is helpful. If this project is something you would love to get involved with, please complete the attached application form and return it to Linda Dunleavy by the deadline of 1pm on Monday 15th April 2013. Interviews for the post will be held on Saturday 20th April 2013, and interview candidates may need to be available all day.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to email Linda at or call the office on 020 8863 2089.

Thank you

Rachel Hewlett

Operations Manager

Registered Charity: 1088365