Elevate 100 marks one year of youth‑led impact in Downham
A game‑changing, community‑led hub offering everyday essentials, mental health support and employment and skills opportunities for young people in Downham has marked its first anniversary, celebrating a year of impact and learning.
Held at Downham Health and Leisure Centre, the event marked one year since Elevate 100 opened its doors in the south of the borough. The event celebrated the success of the Youth Action Board and the partnership between Lewisham Council, Circle Collective and Phoenix Community Housing, bringing together the public, housing and charity sectors to change local support systems.
Since opening in early 2025, Elevate 100 has shown what’s possible when young people are offered the power to lead. Youth Action Board members have played a central role in designing the space, leading research, selecting providers and shaping the project’s direction and will remain at the heart of decision‑making as Elevate 100 evolves.
Elevate 100 was developed in response to challenges identified by young people in Downham, including limited access to local jobs, expensive transport, safety concerns and fragmented services. The hub is based at Downham Leisure Centre, a familiar and trusted community space and provides a clear, local gateway to employment support, training, wellbeing services and industry connections.
Elevate 100 offers personalised, holistic support for young people aged 16 to 30, including CV and interview support, work experience, tailored careers advice, employer engagement and mental health and wellbeing support. Services are designed with young people, adapting to them rather than expecting them to fit into rigid systems.
Over the last year, Elevate 100 has supported 159 young people, with 29 moving into employment. Of those supported, 88 were aged 18-24, 43 were 16-17 and 40 were 25-30, with most referrals coming through word of mouth.
Councillor Ese Erheriene, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Jobs and Skills, said:
“The big message from this work is clear: when young people lead, when organisations collaborate, and when support is rooted in lived experience, we create systems that truly work. Elevate 100 is more than a hub – it is a new model for how youth employment support can look in Downham, in Lewisham, and beyond.
“This is a celebration of what we’ve built together and a reminder of what’s possible when young people are given the chance to create their own futures.”
Members of the Youth Action Board also spoke about the importance of creating a service that feels accessible, supportive and rooted in the community.
A Youth Action Board member said: “So many programmes for young people end at 25, but for lots of us that’s when you’re just getting started. Elevate 100 is here to help young people in Downham to build confidence, skills and real opportunities – all in one place. Whatever you’re looking for, start by looking at us.”
Another young person added: “We want to be the place young people turn to when they need help, or when something goes wrong. We’re local, everything’s in one place, and we want people to leave feeling in a better place than when they arrived.”
Elevate 100 is looking for new Youth Action Board members. This is an exciting London Living Wage paid opportunity for young people with a connection to Downham the south of the borough.
Please express your interest by emailing: angela@circlecollective.org for further details, a job description and application pack. The deadline to apply is Friday 27 March 2026.