My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered legal entity
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Yitzchok
Last Name
Stroh
Pronouns
He/Him
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Lead Organisation Name
Meirim Illuminating Ltd
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2022
Initiative Title
Groundwork
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://meirim.co.uk/
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
For 50 at-risk teens who face mental health challenges, addiction, obesity, and unstable living conditions, GroundWork's outdoor garden space will provide a safe, gardening and outdoor therapy, calming environment that helps them to reconnect with nature.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Meirim is based in NW4 2HU, in an out-of-vicinity location, offering at-risk teens a safe space where they can grow at their own pace, without judgement. Meirim brings together at-risk teens from Hackney, Haringey, Barnet who struggle to fit into mainstream, yet they aren’t in crisis severe enough to receive extreme mental health intervention. What sets Meirim apart is that we focus on early intervention and de-escalation for teens who haven’t yet fallen too far and still have the capacity to return to mainstream life. In a non-judgmental space, boys access guidance and ongoing support to achieve long-term stability. Many of the boys we work with start showing signs of struggle long before things reach a crisis point. These early signals can easily be mistaken for normal teenage behaviour, but often reflect deeper challenges brewing under the surface. Providing an accessible, safe sports space for at-risk teens to connect, be active, and find their place among their peers is lacking (as teens themselves report). They shared facing more barriers to accessing local services and feel judged for being different from their communities and families. For teens struggling with homelessness, addiction, trauma, and mental health issues, spotting and responding early makes all the difference. For example, Pinny* a 14-year-old joined Meirim after he started skipping school, and rejecting his religious identity. It turned out he wasn’t trying to rebel, he was struggling to find independence in a home where every move was tightly controlled.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
To create a fully accessible garden therapy space in our NW4 2HU facilities for at-risk teens, providing a calm outdoor environment to support mental health, physical well-being, and personal development. The space will include weatherproof surfaces, shaded seating, quiet zones, and adaptable equipment for fitness and movement activities. It will be designed to be private, inclusive, and safe for boys with physical health conditions, trauma histories, or anxiety. Group activities will be run in small groups or one-to-one by experienced therapists, allowing teens to engage at his own pace under supervision from staff trained in trauma-informed care, inclusive fitness, and mental health first aid. Activities will include gentle physical movement, gardening, creative arts, and mindfulness exercises, aimed at improving wellbeing, confidence, and emotional regulation rather than performance or competition. We plan to engage approximately 50 Meirim teens from Hackney, Haringey, and Barnet, disengaged from mainstream pathways. The space will also be open to benefit families and the wider community, to demonstrate the safe impacts of this space to others in the community. Many at-risk teens feel excluded from mainstream gyms, clubs, or community programmes due to cost, stigma, or the lack of culturally appropriate support. Others face compounded challenges, including obesity, diabetes, trauma, or unstable home environments. By providing a culturally sensitive, youth-friendly outdoor space tailored to their needs, we remove these barriers and ensure equal access to wellbeing support. GroundWork providing access to a space and sports facilities, improving the mental health and wellbeing of teens who are underserved and often excluded from regular mainstream services.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
We have built long-term trust with local teens and families, operate in a discreet out-of-area location, and have strong partnerships with schools, youth services, and local health providers. GroundWork will integrate these networks to identify teens most in need, coordinate support, and deliver a sustainable therapy support that improves mental and physical well-being while fostering resilience, confidence, and community connection. Meirims services are co-created with the teens, to meet their needs and are culturally sensitive, respectfully located outside the central community. Like Pinnys support, Meirim provides direct support, demonstrating impact with over 230 teens who have successfully graduated from our services. Groundwork blueprints were shared with teens, who have designed and built the ideas and activities. The program will be led by and for Meirim teens. Giving a voice for all teens creates teamwork and a community of respect and focus. A youth-led approach supports our mission to help teens develop their natural talents, build healthier relationships and explore their options for lifelong careers. We do just that. We excel in listening, hearing, responding, and implementing with Meirim’s teens, impact and commitment. Our Meirim’s teens is our youth-led approach. It's about our teens. We have a youth advisory board that meets bi-monthly, providing leadership and updates on the progress, feedback, and impacts of all teens participating in the programme. These meetings will include discussions of the minutes from the last meetings and updates, identification of any teens who require additional assistance, and new ideas, suggestions, and challenges. These meetings will cover all areas of the programme, ensuring all work areas have been identified.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
We are committed to supporting teens; i.e., Meirim moved its facilities to an out-of-the-area space where at-risk teens could grow in their own space and at their own pace, without the judgment of others. At-risk teens are at the heart of Meirim’s work. Involving them in planning and decision-making will strengthen their sense of responsibility, teamwork, communication skills, and confidence. This collaborative approach ensures we remain youth-led, responsive, and genuinely effective. GroundWork impact: Improved mental well-being as teens gain coping strategies, emotional release, and reduced anxiety through structured outdoor therapy, creative tasks, and physical movement. Increased confidence and resilience by active participation in activities, including gardening, adaptive fitness, and mindfulness, fosters self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, and personal responsibility. Stronger social connections through small-group and one-to-one sessions help teens build trust, communication skills, and positive peer relationships. Enhanced physical health by safe, inclusive movement activities supports improvements in fitness, mobility, and long-term healthy habits. Weekly one-to-one and group sessions will run for 12 months, totalling 192 therapy and wellbeing sessions annually. Staff will receive robust training before delivery to ensure high-quality, safe, and effective support for all participants. Groundwork will measure the impact of the garden therapy project through a structured Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system that captures both quantitative and qualitative outcomes. We will collect data at the start, mid-point, and end of the project, enabling us to track progress, demonstrate long-term benefits, and adapt sessions based on participant needs.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Meirim helps teens overcome their shame and fear of seeking help. Meirim’s goal is to remain inclusive and equal and align our activities. Most teens are dealing with additional hardships of: obesity, diabetes, and limited family support. What sets Meirim services apart from other local initiatives is that we identify the root causes of chaotic behaviours and create a personalised plan with targeted interventions to help teens rewrite their futures. We are the only organisation in the area supporting teens who show early signs of disengagement and helping them get back into mainstream education. We are committed to supporting at-risk teens; for example, Meirim moved its facilities to an out-of-area space where at-risk teens could grow at their own pace and in their own space, without the judgment of others. Meirim actively works in partnership with local schools, local youth services, and health providers to ensure our interventions are coordinated and impactful. For example, we collaborate with Legadal to identify early signs of disengagement and design personalised support plans that complement school provision. Joint working also enables resource sharing and innovation. For instance, by partnering with local sports clubs and creative arts organisations, we offer a wider variety of activities and opportunities than we could on our own, from football coaching and MMA sessions to pottery and music workshops. Through collaboration, we amplify impact: teens receive consistent support, develop resilience, and engage in constructive activities, thereby reducing antisocial behaviour and increasing long-term stability. Partnerships help boys access additional peer groups and role models, while building stronger connections between community organisations.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
GroundWork is ready to start immediately following grant approval. We have experienced staff in place, including qualified youth workers, licensed therapists, and trauma-informed fitness and wellbeing practitioners. Our space is ready, and we will begin building the garden therapy and fitness space within a week of receiving funds. The space will be completed by June 2026, with sessions launching mid-June. Weekly one-to-one and group sessions will run for 12 months, totalling 192 therapy and wellbeing sessions annually. Staff will receive robust training before delivery to ensure high-quality, safe, and effective support for all participants. We have identified key potential risks and planned mitigations: Health and safety: All outdoor spaces and equipment will meet rigorous safety standards. Staff are trained in first aid, inclusive fitness, and trauma-informed care. Regular site checks and equipment maintenance will be conducted. Engagement and attendance: Some teens may be reluctant to participate due to anxiety, stigma, or prior negative experiences. We will use existing relationships with families, schools, and local youth services to provide personalised encouragement, flexible scheduling, and reassurance. Mental health triggers: Sessions will be supervised by qualified staff who can respond to anxiety, distress, or conflict. Individual risk assessments and care plans will guide support. Weather or environmental barriers: Outdoor activities will be adaptable with sheltered areas or alternative indoor spaces to maintain continuity. Our partnerships also foster a shared understanding among professionals of the specific needs of at-risk boys, helping to build a more inclusive and responsive support network across North East London.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Our CEO Mr Yitzchok Stroh has extensive experience managing transformational programs for teens from BME majority communities, designing and managing large-scale programs and embedding teens in program delivery. He is Meirim’s designated safeguarding lead. Our staff are all trained in safeguarding and child protection, with additional training in supporting at-risk teens. They bring together experience to protect our teens. Staff often come through our programs bringing an understanding of our work and beneficiaries. All our staff and volunteers are DBS vetted, safeguarding-trained, trauma-informed, and can spot needs and offer 1-to-1 support and coaching. They act as role models with lived experience, having grown up in diverse communities. Meirim is governed by 3 leading community activists who are proactive in leading to organisation goals. Our trustees have lived-in experience and share their pain with at-risk teens struggling. For our trustees, it is in their interest to create a safe space where teens shine and develop into trusting, empathetic and honest adults. Our active trustees directly engage with teens daily, ensuring our services meet the needs, are user-led and engaging. For trustees who know the at-risk feeling, Meirim is the place. We have a staff of professional facilitators and youth leaders who lead and manage the programmes. They are supported by trustees to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Staff skills include: NVQ, Childcare, Safeguarding, MSc Mental Health Counseling, Diploma in Individual the Systemic Psychotherapy, Trained Trauma therapist, MBACP, NCC Certified, IFS Level 2, EMDR Level 1, Diploma level 7 in Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapy, Member of NCIP and BACP, FREC (First Response Emergency Care) level 4, Health Science Bsc. With a staff of experienced professionals and certifications, we successfully support young teens who seek support. We have experience in delivering projects where participants take a leading role. We have a youth member advisory board that discusses programmes, proposes new ideas, updates existing programmes, and provides feedback on new skills-based programmes. They reflect on user progression, developing social skills, teamwork, and communication. Participants’ voices continue to shape programme planning and evaluation. Trustees will be involved in project delivery and oversight to the play facilities. Mr M Brecher will be the project manager and onsite coordinator. Mr Rubin will oversee the running of the sessions, overseeing staff and volunteers, therapists and mentors to ensure project smoothrunning.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Project duration: We anticipate building/ setting up GroundWork project until June 2026. Project evolution: Once the play facilities has been established, there will be seasonal/ monthly activities/ programmes in the space. The long term benefits will include social, emotional, physical and educational. Forecasted calendar: Purchase equipment/ resources: April 2026 Grand opening and commence of activities: July 2026 (dates may vary according to work and completition)
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
Costs will include consultancy and training towards organisation capacity building and training staff towards compliance of our organisation.
