Youth Echo

Welcome to Youth Echo

Youth Echo is a three-year programme funded by the City Bridge Foundation through the Propel Grant, designed to put young people at the heart of change in Haringey. The programme aims to empower young people to lead system change actions to tackle roots causes of racial inequity and interrelated poverty and violence through targeted actions

Working in partnership with North London Partnership Consortium and the Godwin Lawson Foundation, Youth Echo amplifies the voices of young people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, supporting them to influence the systems and services that shape their lives. From health and education to employment and community safety, we create spaces where young people are not just heard, but actively shape solutions.

Through social action projects, mentoring, and pathways into employment, we equip young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to lead. The result is a growing movement of empowered young people driving meaningful change across their communities; their voices are not only valued, but impossible to ignore.

"I feel Youth Echo is an amazing approach in Haringey and one that is very unique in terms of how young people can be referred and offered support. I have found the team extremely kind, open, and transparent about what the goals are... Your team listens to the real concerns of young people in the community." 

Funded by

HYON: Joining Up the Youth Sector

14 May 2025

“Decisions are often made about them without them,” were the opening remarks of Geoffrey Ocen, our Chief Executive, at our Joining up the Youth Sector event to celebrate one year of the Haringey Youth Organisation Network (HYON) at the Engine Room.

His words powerfully captured the mission of the Youth Echo programme to empower young people from disadvantaged, underserved and overlooked communities with the confidence and skills to drive social action and create change in Haringey.

Central to the programme's mission is strengthening the youth sector across the borough, which led to the creation of the Haringey Youth Organisation Network (HYON). To celebrate one year of HYON, the Youth Echo team brought together young people, statutory partners from the NHS, Haringey Public Health, Royal Free, and CAMHS, and local organisations from across Haringey all united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of young people in Haringey.

The event also created valuable opportunities for organisations and statutory services to connect with one another, share perspectives and explore how services can better work together rather than in isolation. The energy in the room reflected a real appetite across the sector for stronger collaboration with young people at the centre.

One of the most significant achievements of the event was creating a space where different parts of the sector could come together to have honest, youth-led conversations around the key issues affecting young people’s health and wellbeing. The event brought together three different youth boards — YAB, CAMHS Youth Board and Haringey Youth Council — helping to strengthen connections between young people, organisations and statutory services across the borough.

Pictured: Vhenekayi Nyambayo, Head of Strategy and Partnerships (North Mid) at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

It was inspiring to see so many young people actively involved and sharing their views, experiences, ideas and priorities a true testament to the positive impact the Youth Echo Programme has had on young people across the borough. The programme is overseen by Camila Peraza, whose leadership has helped shape its impact in the community.

The event itself was co-produced with young people involved in the programme and our experienced Partnerships & Social Action Lead, Alice Igoe. From facilitating table discussions to hosting the event, young people led the way with confidence, ownership and strong leadership. Importantly, the discussions moved beyond simply identifying challenges. Young people and organisations worked together to highlight clear priorities for future action, creating a strong foundation for HYON, Youth Echo and partners across the borough to continue developing more joined-up and collaborative approaches.

It was wonderful to be joined at the event by Jacy Stewart from the City Bridge Foundation, who has funded the programme, and to hear about how the Propel grant has young people at its heart, not just in what it funds, but also in how young people assess grants.

The impact of the event shows just how important the work of Youth Echo is, in bringing young people, the voluntary and community sector and statutory organisations together to co-produce meaningful action. Only then can decisions about young people truly be made with them, ensuring young people’s voices remain embedded in the design and delivery of services across Haringey.