XLP

In the holidays we often take young people on trips. This group went to the woods in Cirencester. Trees - mud - football - one very angry peacock!
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Part of the joy was simply watching young people have the space to be curious for a bit. It's a different scenery and a different pace of life that means phones were forgotten for at least five whole minutes. That might qualify as a modern miracle.
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We also took the group climbing. At first, nobody wanted to take part. The harnesses felt awkward and embarrassing but underneath that there was something many of us know well: the fear of getting it wrong in front of people. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
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The XLP youth workers stayed alongside the young people with constant encouragement without pressure or shame. One by one, they gave it a go. Then suddenly every young person was on the wall!
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One girl decided to try the hardest route. She slipped. Started again. Slipped again. Started again. Over and over, she kept walking up to the wall and trying once more. That kind of resilience deserves to be noticed.
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When young people know they can miss the mark without being laughed at or written off, something changes. They become more willing to take healthy risks and trust themselves. They discover they’re capable of more than they thought.
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Sometimes youth work is big conversations. Sometimes it’s just a minibus heading out of London towards some trees and a climbing wall. Both matter.

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴!
Every day at XLP, we walk alongside young people facing barriers that no young person should have to navigate alone. And every day we see resilience, creativity, leadership and potential come to life in young people and youth workers alike. Now, we’re looking for more youth workers to join that story.

We’re looking for passionate people who can build trusted relationships, create safer spaces and walk consistently alongside young people as they navigate challenges and discover their potential.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
• Senior Youth Worker - South East London (Part-Time)
• Senior Youth Worker - North London (Full-Time)
• Youth Work Practitioner - South London (Full-Time)
• Youth Work Practitioner - East London (Full-Time)

These roles involve delivering face-to-face youth work in schools and communities, building trusted relationships and supporting young people to make positive choices for their future.

If you believe in the power of long-term relationships and want to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people across London, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more and apply via our website.

www.xlp.org.uk/careers

XLP is proud to sign the pledge for 2026 🟠🟣

Every young person deserves safe spaces, trusted adults and honest conversations about fear, pressure, exploitation and staying safe.

We see every day how powerful relationships can be in helping young people feel heard, valued and supported before crisis takes hold. One way we do this is through mentoring.

One young person we supported - J - found it difficult to open up about what was going on in his life.

J’s family contacted us after concerns about his safety and wellbeing following a threat with a knife at school. Mum made the difficult decision to move J to a school closer to home where he could feel more connected and supported - and escape the threat of knives.

In his new school, J is able to engage with other XLP projects. He’s building positive relationships and is beginning to open up more as his sense of safety grows.

This is the power of youth work. Consistent support. Trusted adults. Spaces where young people can be heard before situations escalate.

We’re standing with organisations like Knife Crime Awareness Week and The Ben Kinsella Trust in committing to action to go with the awareness. Join us and take the pledge today:

https://www.knifecrimeawarenessweek.org.uk/the-pledge/?1

Dear wonderful volunteer and community partners,

It's now less than four weeks away until our Celebration Evening and we would love to celebrate with as many of you as possible!

As this year marks XLP’s 30th Anniversary, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate you and the important part you have played in our journey.
We have come a long way, and we would not be where we are today without your support, commitment and belief in the young people we serve. You are a vital part of XLP’s story, and we are so grateful for all that you do.

The celebration will take place on:
Monday 8th June 2026
6:30pm to 9pm
XLP Office

Plus ones are very welcome to join us. As spaces are limited, each person will need a free ticket through the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteer-community-partners-celebration-tickets-1985377586807?aff=oddtdtcreator

There will be food and drinks, including food from Mum's House London Afro-Caribbean fusion cuisine by popular demand, as well as performances, volunteer stories, and speeches from XLP staff, all reflecting on what legacy means to them in this special 30th anniversary year.

Thanks so much!

Today our Youth Advisory Group joined the XLP all-team meeting and the whole room felt better for it.

These young adults have been part of XLP for anywhere between 5 and 12 years. We’ve watched them grow up, find their voices, step into leadership and become people others look up to.

Now they’re at university, working full-time, building lives of their own and still choosing to show up for the next generation.

Hearing them speak today about their experiences, ideas and hopes for the future of youth voice at XLP was both grounding and inspiring. It reminded us that real youth work doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built slowly through trust, consistency and people sticking around.

Very grateful for everything they bring.

A huge congratulations to our CEO, Luke Watson, who ran the last week! In the words of one of our youth workers:

"How lucky we are to have you!! 🫶🏼
Can you believe we have a CEO that loves young people and loves so he runs over 26 MILES to show it?!
Thank you for the sacrifice, the humility, the love and generosity - you are a legend!"

Luke's efforts have currently raised over £15,000 for XLP!! The fundraising page is open until the end of the week, so it's not too late to give.

https://xlp.enthuse.com/cf/lukes-london-marathon

Thank you!

Today’s the day. 🏃‍♂️

Our CEO Luke is running the London Marathon today for XLP!

After 30 years away from marathon running, this is no small challenge, but he’s doing it for the young people we support every day.

He’s running for them.

If you can, please support ❤️

https://xlp.enthuse.com/cf/lukes-london-marathon

🚨 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 🚨
At XLP, we’re standing with young people across inner London as they navigate poverty, exclusion and a lack of opportunity. We’re in it for the long term, showing up in schools and communities to walk with 11-25 year olds as they build futures that feel bigger than their current reality.

Now we’re looking for a 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 to help take that mission further, and faster.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of our growth plans. You’ll drive significant, sustainable income by building powerful partnerships with people.

We’re looking for someone ambitious, hopeful and deeply relational. Someone who understands how to connect commercial instinct with social purpose and who knows how to turn partnerships into lasting impact.

📍 Based in the City of London
💼 £58,000
📅 Closing date: 5th May

If you’ve got senior experience in hashtag and hashtag and you’re ready to use it for something that really matters, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply or find out more: www.xlp.org.uk/careers
And if it’s not for you, share it. The right person might be closer than you think.

Eid Mubarak to all our young people, families, staff and supporters celebrating today 🌙

We celebrate you and we’re grateful for the richness you bring to our community every day.

Wishing you joy, rest, good food and time with the people who matter most.

What does real change sound like?

At our upcoming Service of Thanksgiving, you’ll hear from people who voices and actions have shaped our work at XLP.

From leadership to lived experience, this is a rare moment to hear directly from those who have seen what happens when young people are given the space, support and belief to grow.

You’ll hear from:

• Luke Watson, CEO of XLP
• Natalie Ojevah MBE, former young person with XLP
• Patrick Regan OBE, Founder of XLP
• Bishop Rob Wickham, CEO of Church Urban Fund

This is a chance to reflect on what’s been built together and to look ahead at what’s still possible for young Londoners.

📍 St Botolph’s Church, London
🗓 Wednesday 22nd April 2026
🕕 6:00pm - 7:30pm
🎟 Free to attend, followed by a drinks reception

Come and be part of a moment that holds both thankfulness and ambition in the same breath. https://tinyurl.com/yz3r5nz9