social ark cic

Social Ark CIC provides social entrepreneurial learning programmes, personal development, and ongoing support to 16-30-year-olds from disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds from across east London. We work with community members, volunteers, corporate professional, and mentors to support young people to set up social enterprises and community projects in their own communities. Our members come from very tough and complex backgrounds, all struggle with poverty, some are ex-offenders, caught up in the judicial system, single parents, overcoming addiction, struggling with immigration, lack of education, disability, and mental health problems. Weve found that no matter how determined they may be to turn their lives around, the personal issues and baggage they present with, weighs them down and holds them back. We understand that in order for them to flourish that they need support, our approach is hands-on, wrap-around and individually tailored. Social Ark isnt like other programmes, weve created the Social Ark Family which consists of young people that have been through, or benefitted from our programmes. Our Family includes supporters, volunteers and mentors who share our values and want to stay involved. As the young people develop their enterprises they go from being written off, not trusted and overlooked to becoming role models and grassroots leaders. When they realize that its their unique lived experiences that qualifies them to address the issues theyre passionate about, their self-worth develops and they become confident. Our members constantly tell us they, dont want, or need to to be fixed or cured by people that have never walked a day in their shoes Social Ark was set up in 2015 with seed funding from Barclays. We were the London partner on the UnLtd Do it For Real, Spirit 2012 and Comic Relief programme and are also supported by The East End Community Foundation, The Postcode Lottery, The Big Lottery Fund, and Poplar HARCA.