Why do we do what we do?

Young people everywhere face a variety of difficulties, including a lack of affordable housing, unemployment in a time of uncertainty, and a lack of knowledge around matters of health, especially sexual health.  These difficulties are compounded in areas such as Southwark, our home Borough.  Southwark is one of the ten most deprived Boroughs in London, with a population density almost double that of London as a whole. Crime rates, unemployment rates and teenage pregnancy incidence are all above the London average. Forced marriage and gang violence are very real problems here.

Around three-quarters of our counselling referrals alone are for anger management or depression.  We also see survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, asylum seekers, and those questioning their sexuality in an unwelcoming home environment.

Much of the poverty that was prevalent in Southwark when Faces in Focus was set up in the 1970s is still a problem today. Elephant and Castle is an area of multi-generational deprivation and poverty of ambition. We are known here as a trusted source of help and assistance, rather than as incomers who cannot understand our client's needs. However, there is still so much more we would like to offer.