Building HOPE for Young People in Lambeth

On 3rd July, Ecosystem Coldharbour hosted the HOPE Roundtable – bringing together community leaders, youth voices, statutory services and grassroots organisations to reimagine how we support young people in Lambeth.

We know that joined-up services and thinking aren’t new or novel, but the way we work to support young people must continue to evolve and be innovative. Putting young people at the heart of service delivery may mean changing traditional models and trying approaches that are new, bold, community-led and maybe somewhat uncomfortable for the status quo.

Young people, especially those facing deep, complex challenges, need more than one service or one individual ally. They need systems that work together, with structural buy-in across departments, creating true, seamless referral pathways. This requires entire services that are on the side of young people, not just individuals within them. At the HOPE Roundtable, we explored how communities, council services, schools, health and police can break silos and build genuine partnerships that place young people’s safety, aspirations and needs first.

This event was more than a meeting – it was a commitment to building trust, sharing information and innovating how we deliver services so that no young person falls through the cracks. We are working towards a Lambeth Charter for Change, co-created with community voices, to drive real action and accountability from decision makers. Change is especially needed for young people aged 18+ who are often left to navigate the complex world of adult services without the support.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and gratitude to Helen Hayes MP and youth leader Tafari Clarke for chairing the event. Gratitude goes to the frontline workers, for your dedication to creating safer, thriving communities where young people can heal, grow and lead.

If you have ideas, projects or experiences that could help shape this work, we want to hear from you.