What do you see when you look at the London skyline? Opportunity? Or an impenetrable barrier?
Back in 2007, the founder of Urban Synergy saw a painful gap: young people could see the gleaming towers of the City from their windows, yet lacked the connections, role models, and opportunities to ever step inside. This is the story of how Urban Synergy is building bridges to empower London's youth, the charity built to turn exclusion into opportunity and bridge the physical and professional gap for thousands of young people.
What inspired you to create Urban Synergy?
Back in 2007, there was a lot of negative talk about young people, particularly Black young people. It showed up in all the wrong ways including school exclusions and anti-social behaviour. I found it really sad and started thinking about what was going wrong and what we could do to change it.
At the time, I was working in the city at Thomson Reuters as a Technical Project Manager. Many of my colleagues were talking about breaking the glass ceiling, developing talent, and supporting professional growth. But I kept thinking, if so many young people are being excluded from school, they’ll never have the connections to get into these companies in the first place.
There was a real gap. Many young people could literally see the City from their windows, but they didn’t know how to access it. That realisation sparked the beginning of Urban Synergy. A focused solution to help bridge that gap.
How did Urban Synergy evolve from an idea into a registered charity?
Initially, we didn’t set out to become a charity. The goal was simply to talk to existing community leaders and understand what was already being done. But it became clear there was a unique space for what we wanted to do; connecting professionals, pilots, lawyers, and business leaders directly with young people.
Community leaders really helped shape Urban Synergy into what it is today. Organisations like 100 Black Men of London shared their resources, and people such as the late Paul Lawrence offered invaluable support and we now have an honorary award named after him. I was also lucky to have help from my older sisters, Dianne and Charmaine, who played a big role in running the charity alongside me. It was a real community effort from the start.
Tell us a bit about your background and how it influenced your mission.
I’m of Jamaican heritage, and when we started Urban Synergy, there was a lot of negative press about the Jamaican community and gangs. That narrative was completely opposite to my own experience. I wanted to stand up and show that Jamaicans represent unity, productivity, and community spirit.
My family are part of the Windrush generation who came to the UK to help build unity, peace, and love. That legacy of contribution and service really shaped my belief that we need to create positive spaces and opportunities for young people to thrive.
Why did Urban Synergy decide to focus primarily on Lewisham?
Our very first mentee was in Brent, but when we looked at the data, Lewisham had the highest secondary school exclusion rate in London. To put it in perspective, for every three young people excluded in Tower Hamlets, there were 50 excluded in Lewisham.
We also found that the area had a high population of young people from low-income or single-parent households. That showed us where the need was greatest, so we decided to focus our efforts there.
Urban Synergy has received a number of awards. Which ones stand out for you?
We’ve been honoured to receive a school award from Christ the King College for our contribution to education, a community award from Meta, and a European Diversity Award. We also received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award, and I personally received a community leadership award from Thomson Reuters. Each one represents recognition of the collective effort and impact of everyone involved in Urban Synergy.
What kinds of environments do you expose young people to through Urban Synergy?
We take our young people to a range of experiences , both formal and informal. That includes sporting events, golf courses, and corporate visits to companies such as the London Stock Exchange. One of my favourite memories was when one of our mentees met Usain Bolt in Mayfair.
That young person had been excluded from school but turned everything around, becoming a high academic achiever. Bolt came down personally to acknowledge his journey, which was such a powerful moment. It also reinforced the idea that representation matters. Being of Jamaican heritage myself, it was moving to see such positive affirmation. We’re all about creating positive stories and fertile ground for young people to grow.
Who is your current one-to-one mentee?
My current mentee is Jada, who first came across Urban Synergy when she was in primary school. I met her again recently at an event we hosted with Morningstar in the city. As I was walking around the room, she came up to me and said she’d been part of Urban Synergy since she was little. I couldn’t believe it!
She showed me photos on her phone from her visit to Canary Wharf as a child. I asked what she remembered most, and she told me it was when she stood up in the auditorium and said she wanted to go into technology and the whole room started clapping. That’s the power of exposure.
When young people see professionals who look like them, hear their journeys, and understand how they got from A to B, it changes their perspective. They start to see that their background doesn’t define their future. That moment of validation, when they speak and are heard, builds real confidence.
What kinds of skills does Urban Synergy help young people develop?
A lot of what we do is informal but incredibly powerful. For example, one of our mentees recently graduated from Cambridge with a first. He said that in his interview, he spoke about the legal work experience he gained through Urban Synergy in Canary Wharf.
When you meet professionals, it shows you’re proactive and confident, and that you can articulate yourself. These experiences help young people demonstrate initiative and bring out their natural talent.
How has your relationship with Jada evolved over time?
We’ve built a strong, trusted relationship. She’s now at university and reaching out for mentoring to help her develop further. She’s taken part in public speaking, been in professional settings, and is ready for the next step. It’s wonderful to see her continuing to grow through the Urban Synergy network.
What soft skills do you focus on teaching your mentees?
Communication is a big one. How to introduce yourself, arrange meetings, and follow through. We also emphasise discipline, reliability, commitment, and personal development. These are life skills that apply everywhere, at school, university, work, and even at home.
Urban Synergy is a trusted network that encourages, inspires, and builds confidence. Those skills stay with you long after the mentoring ends.
What’s the next big goal for Urban Synergy?
Our goal is to reach 50,000 young people by 2027 and ensure the charity is sustainable so it can support future generations. We’re also working to build more connections with city companies to open up professional and training opportunities for young people.
At the same time, we want to encourage entrepreneurship; helping young people see themselves not just as employees, but as future experts and business leaders.
Which companies has Urban Synergy partnered with so far?
We’ve partnered with organisations including the London Stock Exchange Group, Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, Citi Bank, Thomson Reuters, UK Power Networks, and Morningstar. These companies provide funding, volunteers, mentors, and crucial work experience placements.
Work experience is so important. If you don’t have parents or family members in certain industries, it can be hard to access those opportunities. That’s why our partnerships are vital, they help level the playing field so that all young people can gain valuable experience.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a mentor with Urban Synergy?
Just sign up. Some people think they need to be senior leaders or have a perfect career path to mentor, but that’s not true. If you’ve gone through school, secured a job, and know how to write a CV, you have something valuable to share.
We’re looking for people who’ve faced challenges and overcome them. Those stories are often more meaningful than the successes alone. Mentoring leaves a lasting legacy, it’s rewarding, and young people truly appreciate it.
If you would like to learn more about corporate partnerships with Urban Synergy, please Contact Us.