London Reclaimed

Partner profile

London Reclaimed started in 2011 as an employment charity with a passion to help young people who struggle to step up into employment. We provide job-specific training, employability skills, tailored mentoring and paid work to 16-25 years olds in South East London.

We now run a paid trainee programme in our two charity owned businesses: Goldfinch Furniture & Lumberjack Café. Young people are with us for between three months and one year before we help them transition into their next job, course or training.

In a competitive and saturated jobs market it can be a challenge to get a first job, but for some young people it can be an almost insurmountable obstacle. For some a prison sentence or criminal record has put them at a disadvantage, for others it may be poor educational attainment, others still face housing challenges, complex family situations or problems with mental health. In our experience it is often a combination of a number of challenges that result in these young people failing to gain employment. 

It is important to point out that it is not for lack of trying, but too regularly these young people are rejected before they can even get an interview. The most recent ONS statistics suggest that around 9% of London’s 16-24 year olds are classed as NEET. We set up London Reclaimed to provide these young people with the opportunity of a first job and a springboard into long term employment.