Is: A project providing training, education, employment and volunteering opportunities and promoting dialogue and cohesion between the local communities (White, Somalian and Bangladeshi)
Based: Tower Hamlets, London
Begun: 2000
Involves: 76 young people
Contact: aminul.hoque@rathboneuk.org

About: The Rathbone project advances racial, cultural and religious harmony within the local area. It provides opportunities for young people to demonstrate good citizenship through activities such as cleaning up local estates. Young people also do volunteer work including peer mentoring which involves meeting with their peers to discuss localised issues. This provides them with various opportunities, including learning leadership, communication and teamwork skills, gaining advice, college and work placements.

“I have realised that we have more in common than differences with my Bengali friends. Now, we work as part of a team as volunteers. We try to educate the new batch of 14–15 year olds. I know what they are thinking. After all, I have been there!”
Michael Samuels, 19, project member since 2001