The Beginning

In the early 2000s, local youth workers across the city started noticing something different: children as young as 8 were trying to join their youth centres designed for teenagers — much to the annoyance of the older youth as you can imagine. There was nowhere designed for these young people, and their need for support and a safe space was clear.

In December 2004, over a pizza, I shared an idea of meeting this unmet need with some of my close friends: What if we could create a mentoring service just for 8–13-year-olds?

The six friends immediately said “yes” and became the first board of trustees of what was then called The Island N1, and I became the founder of The Island, a title I am beginning to embrace. 

Why “N1”? - This was added as a nod to “Network 2”, a pre-existing successful mentoring scheme for older young people aged 13–18 which I and many of my friends had contributed to.

It took almost a year to gain registration with both Companies House and the Charity Commission — but the vision never wavered. From the very beginning a belief was woven into the identity of the Island that York's children and young people deserved this support, and my colleagues and I worked tirelessly to make it happen.

The Island’s model was inspired by A Child’s Journey Through Placement by Vera Falhberg, a paediatrician and psychotherapist, who recognised that children and young people need relationships, time, and space to grow. This philosophy became central to The Island’s approach and inspired the creation of our own framework, The Arc of Moral Authority, which guides our work to this day.

By 2010 the Island was well established within the city and in 2015 we had reached our goal of having 50 mentoring relationships. Now, more than 20 years later, The Island has mentored hundreds of York’s children and young people, consistently receiving heartfelt feedback from mentees and families alike. 

What began as a conversation over pizza has grown into a trusted charity, giving young people the guidance, stability, and belief they need to thrive.