Special Report: East Area Police Working With Youth Unity Empowering Havering’s Youth, One Session At The Time.

Youth Unity is making waves across Havering, offering life-changing support and opportunities to our young people—proving that prevention is vital. The charity is now working in partnership with Havering Police, making a real difference to our youth across the borough.

The Havering Daily joined Shirley and her team, Harold Hill police officers led by Chief Inspector Routley and Harold Hill Community Champion Jan Sargent on a Thursday afternoon to see the incredible work that goes on each week.

In the heart of our borough, a beacon of hope and inspiration is shining for young people thanks to the incredible work of Youth Unity. This dedicated charity, led by the passionate Shirley Jackson and her tireless team, is creating real change by offering meaningful engagement and support to young people across the borough.

With a vibrant hub based in Romford, Youth Unity provides a safe and creative space where young people can express themselves. From music production and podcasting to mentoring and skill-building activities, this is a place where confidence is nurtured and potential is unlocked.

“We wanted to build a place where young people feel heard, supported, and given the tools to succeed,” said Shirley. And succeed they do—week in, week out.

But their work doesn’t stop at the studio. Youth Unity is active on the streets, particularly in Harold Hill, where they run weekly sessions designed to engage local youths and divert them from negative influences. On Thursday afternoons, you’ll find Shirley and her team on Farnham Road, engaging with young people from 3:00pm to 5:30pm as part of the Clear, Hold, Build initiative.

This initiative, funded by East Area Police and spearheaded by Chief Inspector Charlie Routley, has delivered powerful results for the community. From a noticeable drop in shoplifting to a reduction in anti-social behaviour, the impact of this collaboration is evident. It’s a perfect example of how community policing, combined with grassroots initiatives, can deliver positive, long-term change.

The sessions offer more than just activities—they’re a chance for young people to build trusted relationships with mentors, police, and peers. It’s about showing them a better way, giving them support before problems arise.

Here-Shirley tells us of the fantastic work her charity has provided for the community.

Since January, our sessions have consistently engaged over 300 young people, with 50 to 60 attending each week, including a growing number of parents and carers.

One example of the impact we’re making involves a single parent family on a low income who attend regularly. The mother recently shared concerns about her 19-year-old son, who is unemployed and struggling with low confidence. We introduced her to our services at the Romford Hub, and since then, we’ve been working directly with her son through our accredited training modules, supporting his personal development and employability.

We’ve also built a number of positive relationships with young people from the local estates, some of whom have previously been associated with anti-social behaviour (ASB). These young people have become regular attendees and frequently share how much they enjoy the Thursday sessions a powerful step toward community cohesion and early intervention.

 Additionally, we continue to collaborate with Koru-Ed (Pupil Referral Unit), engaging young people referred from their provision. These individuals consistently participate positively in our sessions, demonstrating growing confidence and trust in our team.

Across all our work, our focus remains on building self-esteem, strengthening relationships, and diverting young people away from criminal activity through meaningful, ongoing engagement.”

In an era where too many headlines focus on youth crime, it’s uplifting to spotlight the work being done behind the scenes by organisations like Youth Unity. They’re not just talking about solutions—they’re creating them, week after week, one young person at a time.

Chief Inspector Routley told the Havering Daily: “It’s great to see the positive impact that Youth Unity have had in Farnham Road since January. By working with them as part of the “Our Harold Hill – Clear Hold Build” initiative we hope to make a long lasting impact in Harold Hill and work with the young people in the area. Diverting children away from becoming involved in crime and ASB is one of our main priorities and Youth Unity provide them a safe space to socialise, access mentorship, advice and training opportunities. Shirley and the team do some amazing work and I hope more young people come down to the sessions to get involved and see what they can offer”.

Harold Hill Community Champion Jan Sargent has also been supporting Shirley and working with local organisations across the area to support our youth.

So next time someone asks what’s being done to support young people in Havering, point them to Farnham Road on a Thursday afternoon. That’s where change is happening—thanks to a team who believe in the power of youth and the importance of community.

The Youth Unity Team, Harold Hill Police Officers, Rico Maza and Harold Hill Community Champion Jan Sargent.

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