Stories
What our Young People say:
“Through these sessions I felt I have a safe space where I could explore how I feel and get advice on how to cope with the things I couldn’t cope with before”
Yr 10 LVA Mentee
”The thing I liked most was having someone to talk to on a personal level and I liked being able to find new ways to deal with problems. My mentor helped me very much and I definitely feel like it helped me a lot ”
Year 10 LVA Mentee
What Our Supporters say:
“RPLC is pleased to support LVA’s delivery of high quality, preventative and early intervention RSE work in local schools which aligns to RPLC’s priorities of improving lives, creating opportunities and working in partnership. LVA has a terrific team, keep up the great work!”
Amy Vogel Education Grants Officer
We are extremely thankful to the Hampton Fund for enabling us to deliver our programmes in their catchment areas.
Holy Trinity Richmond have been supporting LVA since the charity was founded and it has been great to see how they have grown and developed their programs over the years. We value the significant investment that the LVA team give to the young people that they work with and the ways in which they resource parents too. The services they provide are invaluable and we recognise the ever increasing challenges that young people are facing and we wholeheartedly support LVA's continuing response and practical expertise in this area of need.
Rev Dan Wells
We came to support LVA through its founders who are connected with our own church story here in Barnes. It is no secret that navigating life as a young person is beset by challenges currently. LVA provides vital tools and the space for young people to ask real questions both collectively in the classroom and via mentoring in school. Arguably, we are shaped most between the ages of 11-18 and too easily it’s the wrong things that impact us and tell us who we are. LVA are doing important work in changing this for the good and providing young people with a safe place to process the many issues and relational dilemmas that face them. Our involvement as a church gives us a stake in this transformative work.
Rev David Cooke, Vicar Holy Trinity Barnes.
Christ Church Feltham is delighted to be a supporter of LVA. We are so behind the core message of LVA - that is that young people are loved, valued and able and so we are committed to do anything we can do to help, to facilitate and prayer for their work in schools, churches, homes, communities and beyond!!
Rev Andy Watkins
What our Schools Say
LVA continue to support the delivery of our Relationship Sex and Health Education programme. They offer a wide range of subjects that meets the needs of our students. LVA are incredibly adaptable and will tailor sessions to the school's needs and differentiate key topics by age. They are adaptable around session lengths and timings to help accommodate the school. Their presenters are welcoming, professional and quickly develop strong relationships with the students. They are approachable and this helps break down any resistance from students about asking questions. Presenters raise concerns to me as DSL and will feedback on sessions on how students responded. I am not sure what we would do without their input into our RSHE programme!
Matthew Morris
Deputy Headteacher | DSL
Christ’s School, Richmond
The LVA Trust have been fantastic in offering support to our most vulnerable students, some of whom have complex mental health needs and are facing challenges regulating their emotional wellbeing. Small group sessions have perhaps made the most significant difference – students who feel unable to speak to a counsellor or therapist on a one-to-one basis feel more encouraged to speak with a few of their friends and peers, so that they can share experiences and work towards a common goal. Small group sessions have also been useful for students who are not able to participate in larger group settings, due to worries about rebuttal or the prospect of embarrassment. LVA Trust team and volunteers have been instrumental in developing the confidence and self-esteem of many anxious students, a problem which has now been hugely exacerbated by the pandemic. We urgently need further support for these children and their families, some of whom are destitute and reside in appalling living conditions, where they cannot socialise with other people for weeks at a time.
We are extremely concerned about the impact of such a long period of fear and isolation. A critical point will be when students are asked to return to school – after so much time away, how will they adapt and readjust to being back in a school environment? The LVA Trust are ideally placed to help with this, as they are already known in our school community and they have already made a big difference to the lives and wellbeing of many of our students.
Adam Walthaus
Deputy Headteacher | DSL
Bolder Academy
We are so grateful for the work that LVA does with the students at Richmond Park Academy. The team has been a brilliant support to the mental health and resilience of our students, providing targeted 1:1 and group support for vulnerable students as well as a series of workshops and assemblies to supplement our PSHE and RSE curriculum throughout the year. They also provided a wide range of support to our students during the lockdown periods. The professionalism and care that the team show the young people they work with is outstanding and we are really pleased to be planning an extended programme for the 21-22 academic year.
Jack Costello
Deputy Principal & DSL
Richmond Park Academy
I am extremely delighted to recommend the exemplary quality services of LVA Trust. LVA provides young people with life skills and knowledge that will travel with them through their life journey. LVA Trust has acquired an outstanding reputation in Richmond schools. The range of workshops that they offer cover students wellbeing from all angles. I have used LVA services with our students and parents since they started few years ago and I have found their delivery outstanding, our students enjoyed and valued the workshops and the one-to-one sessions with the facilitators. Students found LVA input extremely valuable and as a school we feel that it is important to have a charity such as LVA who is willing to help young people of all ages and all backgrounds. LVA extended their services to Kingsley Academy and our students have immensely benefited from the work provided by LVA
Khadija Halpenny
Assistant Headteacher at Kingsley Academy
LVA session the Year 7's had on Monday was excellent - wish I'd have had sessions like that when I was at school - really important and helpful stuff. I was also super impressed by the engagement of the (majority of the) class and their mature thoughts and answers as they explored the issues raised. Brill !
Teacher at Christs School Richmond who was in a session delivery.
