wHO are WE
HISTORy
Founded in 2012 by Kerry Astin, FAST was birthed from a recognition of the area's youth-related challenges, such as drugs, crime, and unemployment. It was named after Isaiah 58, with its emphasis on justice and compassion, FAST London aims to make a positive impact despite being close to affluent neighbourhoods.
FAST partnered with e:merge between 2015-2019, but due to funding and national youth service cuts, we had to do a FAST58 crowdfunding campaign in 2019 with only funds of with £3000. In 58 days we raised £60K and officially registered as a charity in May 2020.
today
FAST London is a Christian youth charity who works with over 400 young people each year through football, community youth work, mentoring and keywork in the both the community and in schools. Below are some key statistics on us:
• We are in a community ranked in the top 30% of deprivation and top 5% for poverty affecting children (IMD 2019)
• We commit to long-term relationships over short term fixes
• We prioritise early prevention
• We provide committed youth workers and volunteers for support.
MISSiON
At FAST London we invest time, resources and opportunities into young people who live in areas of high deprivation to empower them to complete education, develop healthy relationships and a pathway for an aspirational future. We prioritise relationships living by the mantra:
Join us in our journey of transformation and empowerment as we pave the way for a brighter future together.
Working Relationally: Building authentic relationships and actively engaging with young people andfamilies to meet their
needs.
Optimistic Perspective: Seeing the potential in all stakeholders and inspiring young people to reachtheir full potential.
Inclusive and Collaborative: Embracing diversity and partnering with others to achieve the bestoutcomes for young people.
Faith Based, Not Faith Biased: Respecting and honouring beliefs while guided by love, compassion,and justice.
Working Holistic: Addressing physical, socio-emotional, and spiritual well-being for overall development.
Outcomes Focused: Creating measurable changes in personal growth, education, employment, and well-being.Innovative: Seeking new approaches to address challenges and maximize our impact.
These values are the foundation of our work at FAST, creating a nurturing environment for youngpeople to thrive and contribute positively to their communities and the world.