SPH3RE’s mission is to inspire a young generation of children from African and Caribbean backgrounds unlock and prosper to their full potential.

Our programme

SPH3RE’s runs an expert-led programme, whereby professionals of African Caribbean backgrounds from a range of expert fields, are partnered with a niece/nephew to provide 1-2-1 mentorship and guidance using learnings from their professional experiences.

We deliver mentoring programmes to young people undergoing primary education right through to higher education. By linking young people with industry experts, we foster positive work ethics and attitudes. Additionally, for the mentees who have chosen a specific field to join, our mentors provide a great opportunity to direct and equip mentees with the necessary tools to help bridge the aspirations-attainment gap.

Why we exist

Children of African and Caribbean background in the UK are generally entering schools from well nested family homes. Unfortunately, the local and national education curriculums have yet to reflect the diversity of the country leaving some of our young boys and girls marginalised.

Recent reports are showing an alarming level of disparities between the general population and our young Black children and adults including:

• Low teacher expectations and negative perceptions of Black students, resulting in low educational progress and high expulsion rates
• Black Caribbean students facing three times the exclusion rates than all remaining pupils
• A 2016 review by the UK House of Lords showing that 12.7% and 14.8% of working age Black women and men being unemployed, despite the national average being just 5%

Additionally, having higher qualifications would normally increase the labour market success of young people from African and Caribbean backgrounds, but unfortunately a recent study has shown that these graduates are earning 12% – 19% less than White British graduates largely due to a difference in social networks.