After 18
After 18 is a charitable organisation working in central Leicester. It provides a range of support services and specialist information for young refugees and asylum seekers, aiming to provide educational and wellbeing support. Regular work includes English and maths tuition, weekly drop-in sessions, and access to opportunities for career and academic progression.
At the Trustees meeting in February 2025, the Foundation agreed funding of £7,500. The grant is to fund the continuation of the charity’s weekly wellbeing group for young asylum seeking or refugee women. The group supports around 30 women aged 18-25, the majority of whom arrived in the UK without their families and are now living in Leicester or the surrounding area. Two-hour sessions run each Friday, where the women collectively chose an activity such as cooking, yoga or bracelet-making for example. Staff and volunteers provide practical and emotional support and mentoring outside the sessions too. Outcomes for the women include reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness, increased confidence, and better opportunities in life moving forward.
