Mayor Brenda Dacres has named youth empowerment charity Urban Synergy as her first mayoral charity. 

The Lewisham-based charity inspires, guides, and ignites young people’s ambitions through mentoring, school programmes, and work experience opportunities. It focuses on early support and confidence building, connecting young people with aspirational yet relatable role models, mentors, and industry-leading companies. 

Mayor Dacres said, 

“I am proud to name Urban Synergy as my first mayoral charity. I have seen firsthand the difference their work has made to the lives of young people in Lewisham, including through providing outstanding mentoring and work experience opportunities.” 

“Urban Synergy is already helping transform the lives of young people in our community and through the mayoral charity partnership, they will be able to offer more opportunities to young people in Lewisham.” 

Leila Thomas founded the charity in 2007 “to help to bridge the gap for young people in communities, who can see the city from their window, but don’t know how to get there.” 

As well as fundraising, Lewisham Council will work directly with the charity to help further their work with young people in the Borough.