
Glamour, delicious food, fabulous entertainment, music and dancing all wrapped up into one sparkling evening. 153 guests from 37 nationalities attended our first annual charity ball. Among the attendees, we had guests from Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, London, Bognor Regis, Brighton, Chichester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Spain, Paris and the Republic of Guinea.

The event started at 7pm with welcome drinks and Opera performance by Lilliana. At 7.50pm guests were seated for their 3-course meal. At 9.50pm Mariato & Peter Diaz performed followed by performance from Decades live UK. There was ongoing entertainment til 1am. 

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£5,300** (and still counting!) which will go a long way to helping URBOND help advance education in one of the poorest countries in the world (Republic of Guinea). We are building a school for children in need, we will provide them with teachers, health care and the basic things in life for a better future.

We had some wonderful auction prizes donated by Richmond Motor Group, Paul Pogba, the Village hotel, Rowan Watts Photography and DJ Mark.

It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to our sponsors Tennyson Ltd and Richmond Motor Group for their continuous support. Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


First Charity Ball


The annual black-tie fundraising event was held on the 6th November 2021 at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth. The event helped raise funds for children in need, celebrated the outstanding work of its volunteers and helped promote racial harmony, equality and diversity for the best interest of our city Portsmouth.

150 guests from 42 nationalities attended the annual black-tie event. Among the attendees, we had guests from Spain, Republic of Guinea, Paris, Leicester, Manchester, London, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Birmingham.

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£13,710 **(and still counting!) which will go toward URBOND Child Education Programme (in the Rep. of Guinea, West Africa) which is working to improve access to primary education for children in areas where there are shortfalls.
 
It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to our special sponsor Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support. Thanks to [Gagliani & Co](https://www.instagram.com/gaglaniand/), Perfect Pear, [M3 Shop](https://www.instagram.com/m3shopuk/) , Success Connections and Daviun Vodka.  

Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


Second Charity Ball


The annual black-tie fundraising event was held on the 12th November 2022 at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth. 130 people attended the event and celebrated the outstanding work of the charity both in the Portsmouth (UK) and in Koutaya, Dubreka (Republic of Guinea).

Your contribution helped us to raise a total of **£8,571.37** (and still counting!) which will go toward URBOND Child Education Programme which is working to improve access to primary education for children in areas where there are shortfalls.

URBOND’s Child Education Programme was established in Guinea in 2019. It is currently based in Koutaya, Dubréka (Republic of Guinea), just north of Conakry. It seeks to dramatically improve the opportunities for access to education at all levels, and to provide basic educational and learning resources to children in need. It also seeks to work with young people to encourage them to stay in school where possible, and not to risk their lives leaving the country illegally for Europe. It has supported a total of 2,940 primary age children since 2019 – among these pupils, girls attendance with partner school has risen hugely by 62.2%.

To help with the fundraising, we had some wonderful auction prizes donated by Paul Pogba, Richmond Motor Group, University of Portsmouth, Proestetica Beauty, EuroStar, Jaimes Harrington, the Marriott hotel and Alseny Camara.

It all wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people in the community and beyond and companies that have donated their time and services free of charge. Special thanks to the special sponsor Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support. Thanks to Gagliani & Co., POOW Media, Perfect Pear, Portsmouth News and Poppy Haskell for their amazing contribution. Thanks to all those colleagues and guests of companies that have attended the events.


Third Charity Ball



### Portsmouth charity hosted black-tie fundraiser to raise money for its charitable work in the UK and in the Republic of Guinea ###



A multi-award winning CHARITY that helps young people across the world hosted its 4th Annual glitzy black-tie event to raise funds for underprivileged young people in Portsmouth and overseas in the Republic of Guinea (West Africa).

URBOND a Portsmouth-based charity hosted a glamourous charity fundraising ball to help support their work with underserved young people in the city of Portsmouth through its Youth Development Programme and continue its ongoing work with children in the Republic of Guinea through its Child Education Programme.

Over 150 people pulled out their best dresses and suits for the do, which took place this past weekend at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel. Guests enjoyed an evening full of entertainment, including the great comedian Adrian Doughty, music from DJ Mike Sullivan, alongside drinks and a three course meal.

To help the charity’s fundraising endeavours, they hosted a live auction where guests bid on one-of-a-kind collectables such as signed shirts from Manchester United, Liverpool Football legends and memorabilia from iconic stars including Adele and Madonna.

The headline sponsors for the night were Richmond Motor Group and SLR Marine Recruit. The following comment was made by Sam Nobes from Richmond Motor Group “The work that URBOND is doing here in our community and in the Republic of Guinea is invaluable, we are proud to support wherever we can.”

Sarah Roads at SLR also said on the evening, “SLR Marine Recruitment were so delighted to be a part of the charity event and having more of an insight into the amazing work they are doing within our city and overseas. URBOND is a very important organisation that SLR is excited to support.”

URBOND’s Community Integration Programme is helping advance racial harmony, equality and diversity for the public benefit. Since inception in 2013, the charity has brought together over 50,000 people and is continuing to provide support to the Portsmouth community through its sporting activities, community works, workshops and seminars, social events, women’s group and hard talk forum.

Under URBOND’s Youth Development Programme, which operates in Portsmouth, the charity works with local partners to provide opportunities, wellness and success to young people in the city. This year alone, the programme has seen a staggering 7,596 participants at activities and events, engaged with 156 young people every single week, organised over 437 activities and events, and spent 1,131 hours with young people providing support and prospects for their future. The programme is growing year and year, which is why URBOND is seeking support from its community so they can continue with their great work.

On Thursday 5th October, 8 volunteers took the trip to Dubreka, the Republic of Guinea to develop the building of their new school and help tackle barriers preventing young girls from attending school, as well as teaching IT, English and Media classes to young children as part of URBOND’s Child Education Programme. The programme’s aim is to improve access education, empower communities, provide support to teachers and help change the lives of children in need. So far, the charity has supported over 20,000 primary school children in Guinea, donated over 15,000 basic items and study materials, educated over 12,000 young boys about girls’ protection and sexual violence and educated over 10,000 young girls on menstruation.

URBOND’s charity ball event is held every year to raise funds and raise awareness on it’s dedication to help children and young people that would otherwise go without. This year, the ball raised an amazing **£11,354** and still counting!

 If you would like to donate to URBOND, please visit their website at [www.urbond.org](https://urbond.org) and click the ‘Donate Now’ button.

You can now also Sponsor a Child in the Republic of Guinea where your donation will go directly to supporting a children’s basic needs such as food and clothes along with covering the costs of them going to school. For more information on how to Sponsor a Child, please visit [childeducation.urbond.org/what-we-do/sponsor-a-child](https://childeducation.urbond.org/what-we-do/sponsor-a-child)

Fourth Charity Ball


Over 120 guests gathered at the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth, on Saturday 23rd November for URBOND's Fifth Annual Charity Ball, an evening dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children and young people in need.

Dressed in their best suits and gowns, attendees enjoyed a night of entertainment featuring the wonderful singer Gloria Miller, live music from DJ Ross, a delicious three-course meal, along with a raffle and auction with amazing prizes that were up for grabs. The event highlighted URBOND’s commitment to providing support and opportunities to children and young people who might otherwise go without.

The evening was made even more memorable by testimonials from those directly impacted by URBOND’s work. Alfie, a young beneficiary, shared his inspiring journey over the past two years, crediting URBOND with building his confidence, improving his mental health, and enhancing his employability skills. Today, Alfie is thriving in a supervisor role and attributes much of his success to the guidance and support he received through the charity.

Guests also heard from Rob, a dedicated URBOND volunteer, who spoke about his recent 12-day trip to the Republic of Guinea. Rob’s efforts in delivering basketball coaching and raising awareness about the importance of education left a lasting impact on the children and community of Dubreka.

To shine a light to those who have gone above and beyond in supporting the charity over the past year, URBOND awarded three people to celebrate their efforts including: Volunteer of the Year (Patrycja Tatarzycki), Role Model of the Year (Konstantinos Peponis) and the URBOND award (Kingsley Digby). Congratulations to our award winners, you truly deserve it.

The evening’s success was made possible thanks to the generosity of attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, including SLR Marine Recruit, GRP Solutions Ltd, and the National Institute for Health Research.

URBOND Celebrates 5th Annual Charity Ball


**URBOND** is thrilled to announce that we have officially moved into a new, centrally located space at City Buildings in the heart of Portsmouth. This exciting milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the charity.

The new space has a variety of rooms designed to foster creativity, learning, and collaboration. The facility includes team offices, a library room, a study room, **URBOND**’s very own music studio, a games room, and a spacious multipurpose room. The multipurpose room can be utilised for a wide range of activities and events, bringing together community members and young people from across the city.

“This centrally located facility provides convenient access and brings most of our services under one roof, allowing us to better serve our community and maximise our impact. It offers young people across the city a safe space to visit after school hours, where they can engage in positive activities. Additionally, we recognise that finding venues can be challenging. As part of our plan, we will collaborate with groups, organisations and partners to make our multipurpose room available for events and meetings when possible.” – **Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO**

 
**URBOND** extends a heartfelt thank you to all those who attended the opening event and to Portsmouth City Council for supporting the charity’s move. We are excited for the new opportunities this space offers and look forward to hosting upcoming events and activities that will benefit the local community.

 
Stay tuned for announcements on future events and activities that will make the most of this amazing new space

URBOND Moves to New Space at City Buildings in Portsmouth


The URBOND team attended the Annual Shaping Portsmouth Conference on Friday 26th January where many local businesses and organisations came together to see the updates and developments in our city of Portsmouth.

During the conference, the Shaping Portsmouth Awards were presented including the ‘Education Award’, ‘Business Award’ and ‘Community Award’ which URBOND was the lucky winner of this year!

We are thankful to Shaping Portsmouth and Cllr Steve Pitt for their support and nominating us for this award.

URBOND wins Shaping Portsmouth Community Award!


Youth Ambassadors Collaborate with Portsmouth Deaf Club on New Intergenerational Project 

In an inspiring initiative aimed at fostering community connections, Youth Ambassadors Joy and Elijah met with members of the Portsmouth Deaf Club on 3rd of May 2024. The meeting focused on developing a new intergenerational project designed to support and empower members of the deaf community. 

 

During the discussion, Joy and Elijah presented ideas for various activities, including Zumba and yoga classes, social events, and sign language workshops. These activities are intended not only to promote physical well-being but also to enhance social engagement and communication skills among participants. 

 

"We believe that fostering connections between different generations can create a vibrant community atmosphere," said Joy. "Our goal is to provide inclusive activities that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their hearing ability." 

 

Elijah echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of accessibility and inclusion in all planned events. "It's vital that we create spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued. Through our workshops and classes, we hope to encourage participation and build friendships." 

 

Members of the Portsmouth Deaf Club expressed their enthusiasm for the proposed project, highlighting the potential benefits of such initiatives in strengthening community ties. "We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration can bring," said Debbie for the club. "These activities not only provide a platform for learning and socialising but also promote awareness and understanding of the deaf community within Portsmouth." 

 

The Youth Ambassadors plan to finalise the details of the project in the coming weeks, with hopes of launching the first events soon. Community members are encouraged to stay tuned for announcements regarding dates and registration. 

 

As the initiative progresses, URBOND Youth Ambassadors remain committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. 

Youth Ambassadors Collaborate with Portsmouth Deaf Club on New Intergenerational Project


We had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Motiv8 All Staff Day, an event dedicated to celebrating the impactful work of the Motiv8 team. This gathering not only showcased the commitment of Kirsty Robertson and her team to support young people in our local community but also highlighted the powerful synergies between our two organisations. 

 

As attendees shared stories of resilience and success, it became evident that Motiv8 plays a crucial role in uplifting youth, providing them with the resources and guidance they need to navigate challenges. The inspiring presentations underscored the dedication of the staff, whose daily efforts significantly enhance the lives of young people in our area. 

 

Our participation in the event allowed us to engage in meaningful discussions about our respective missions and explore collaborative opportunities. We were thrilled to discover the shared values and goals that align our organisations, paving the way for a partnership that aims to make a lasting impact. 

 

“We are excited about the potential of bringing our shared ideas to life,” said Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO. “Together, we can create innovative programmes and initiatives that will benefit young people in our community and foster a supportive environment for their growth and development.” 

 

As we move forward, both organisations are committed to combining resources and expertise to develop impactful strategies that address the needs of our local youth. We look forward to collaborating closely with Motiv8 to turn our vision into reality and empower the next generation.  

Collaboration for Change 


 

On September 12th, the Portsmouth Creates CIC hosted its highly anticipated "We Connect" conference, bringing together local leaders, organisations, and community members. The event served as a platform to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at building stronger and more connected communities in Portsmouth. 

Among the keynote speakers was our CEO, Ousmane Drame. During his presentation, Drame highlighted the critical initiatives that URBOND has been spearheading to support youth engagement, community integration, and social development in the city. 

 

One of the key messages of Drame’s speech was the vital role volunteers play in community organisations. He emphasised how building a robust volunteer network not only helps charities thrive but also offers life-changing experiences for individuals looking to contribute to meaningful causes. By sharing stories of URBOND’s success, Drame underscored the positive impact of volunteering, not just on the charities themselves but also on the volunteers who find fulfilment and personal growth through their contributions. 

 

The "We Connect" conference, organised by Portsmouth Creates CIC, was an excellent opportunity for local organisations to showcase their efforts and collaborate on ideas to strengthen the city’s social fabric. URBOND’s involvement in the event highlighted the charity's commitment to fostering community cohesion and supporting the development of Portsmouth’s youth. 

 

A special thank you goes to Gemma Nichols and the entire Portsmouth Creates team for hosting such a valuable and inspiring event for the local community. The conference is another step towards creating a more united and connected Portsmouth. 

![youth award]( /images/assets/cic.jpg "Award winners")

URBOND CEO Ousmane Drame Speaks at Portsmouth Creates CIC ‘We Connect’ Conference.


 
URBOND Honoured at Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit for Transformative Global Work. 

 

On the 14th September URBOND was honoured at the prestigious Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit (PATECS). The award recognised the organisation’s ongoing efforts in the city of Portsmouth as well as its impactful Child Education initiatives in the Republic of Guinea. 

 

The accolade serves as a testament to URBOND unwavering commitment to positive social change, both locally and abroad. The Child Education programme in Guinea has touched the lives of numerous young people, offering critical resources and support in underserved communities. This work continues to make a profound difference by empowering children with the education and opportunities they need to thrive. 

 

A heartfelt thank you was extended to Gabriel and the entire Pavolera team for acknowledging these contributions. During the thank you speech, URBOND also expressed deep gratitude to its sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and beneficiaries. Their collective efforts, along with a dedicated core team, are the driving force behind the success and impact that URBOND continues to achieve. 

 
We are just getting started,” said Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO. “Get involved, as together, we can achieve even greater things.” 


With this recognition, URBOND aims to inspire others to join their mission, reinforcing the belief that meaningful change is possible when communities come together. The future looks bright as URBOND pushes forward, creating a lasting legacy of empowerment and opportunity both at home and across the globe.  

 
For those looking to get involved or learn more, URBOND welcomes volunteers and supporters to contribute to the ongoing journey of transformation. 

URBOND Honoured at Portsmouth Tech and Cultural Summit for Transformative Global Work. 


Our CEO Attends Portsmouth Mediation And Assessment Service AGM: A Night of Inspiration and Community Impact. 

 

Last night, our CEO was honoured to be the special guest speaker at the Portsmouth Mediation And Assessment Service (PMS) Annual General Meeting (AGM). The event brought together community leaders, partners, and supporters to celebrate the vital role that PMS continues to play in promoting harmony and resolving disputes within the Portsmouth community. 

 

The evening was filled with insightful discussions, highlighting the dedication of PMS to foster positive change through mediation and assessment services. Our CEO expressed deep admiration for the tireless efforts of Steve Rolls and the entire PMS team, noting how their work continues to make a significant impact on the lives of local residents. 

 

Reflecting on the event, the CEO shared, It was truly inspiring to witness the dedication and incredible impact that PMS has on our community. The work they do helps to bridge gaps, restore relationships, and make Portsmouth a stronger, more united place to live. 

 

The AGM also served as an opportunity to discuss potential future collaborations between our URBOND and PMS. Both parties are eager to continue working together to serve the community's best interests. As our CEO emphasised, partnerships like these underscores the power of collective efforts: Together, we are stronger. 

 

As we look to the future, we are excited about continuing to support the incredible work of PMS. With ongoing collaboration, we hope to make an even greater difference in the lives of those who call Portsmouth home. 

Our CEO Attends Portsmouth Mediation And Assessment Service AGM: A Night of Inspiration and Community Impact.


We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership to launch Space at URBOND, a  creative project delivered in partnership with Seekers Creates, aimed at inspiring and empowering young people across the city. 

Space at URBOND will provide a platform to spark imagination, encourage artistic expression, and cultivate creativity within the local youth community. We can’t wait to see what unfolds as we work together to unlock new possibilities. 

A huge thank you to Steve Baker and Clair Martin for their incredible support in bringing this vision to life. 

Stay tuned… and watch this SPACE! 

New Creative Project Space at URBOND!


We felt the community spirit as residents gathered for the Landport and Buckland SOUP Awards, a grassroots event organised by Energise Me to support local initiatives promoting health and physical activity. 

The event gave members of the community a platform to pitch for funding, where the audience votes for their favourite ideas after hearing the stories behind each proposal. 

A standout moment of the evening was a pitch from URBOND Youth Ambassador, Caleb. Caleb proposed a series of free basketball sessions throughout the summer, aiming to get young people across the Landport and Buckland area active, engaged, and having fun. 

“Well done, Caleb – you smashed it!”  

Community Comes Together for Landport and Buckland SOUP Awards


Youth Ambassadors Raise Over £1,150 for URBOND with Cultural Diversity Fundraiser. 

Two remarkable young ambassadors Caleb and Manuel hosted a Cultural Diversity Day at St. Edmunds School to support URBOND, a Portsmouth-based charity dedicated to empowering youth and fostering positive change. Their efforts resulted in a phenomenal £1,152.52 being raised for the charity, showcasing the students' commitment to giving back to their community. 

The fundraising event, which celebrated various cultures, not only helped raise crucial funds but also promoted awareness about diversity and inclusion among their peers. Caleb and Manuel have become wonderful advocates for URBOND within their school, exemplifying the impact young people can have in driving meaningful change. 

URBOND extends its heartfelt thanks to both ambassadors and St. Edmunds School for their generous support. This contribution will significantly assist the charity’s mission to create better opportunities, promote wellness, and pave the way for future success for young people across Portsmouth. 

“We are truly grateful for their dedication and passion," said Martina Elgue, URBOND youth Development Manager.  

Youth Ambassadors Raise Over £1,150 for URBOND with Cultural Diversity Fundraiser.


 URBOND’s Summer 2024 Work Experience Programme Exceeds Expectations 

 
URBOND work experience programme has emerged as a resounding success this summer, significantly exceeding its initial goals. Launched at the start of July 2024, the programme aimed to secure at least ten work experience placements for participants for the whole summer 2024. However, we are thrilled to report that it not only met this target but soared beyond it, achieving a remarkable 102 placements. 

 
This achievement reflects URBOND’s commitment to providing valuable opportunities for young individuals seeking to gain practical experience in their respective fields. The programme has been instrumental in helping young people enhance their skills, build professional networks, and prepare for future career prospects. 

 
“Surpassing our goal by such a significant margin is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and our partners,” said Ousmane Drame, URBOND CEO. “We are incredibly proud of the positive impact we’ve had on young people. Thank you to our partners for making this possible.” 

 
The 102 work experience placements spanned various industries, allowing participants to explore diverse career paths. Feedback from both participants and host businesses has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the programme's structure and the enthusiasm of the interns. 

 
As URBOND looks to the future, there is a strong sense of optimism regarding the potential for even greater impact. “There’s so much more we can achieve,” Ousmane Drame added. “We are already in the process of planning for next year’s programme and exploring new partnerships that will allow us to expand our reach and offerings.” 

 
The success of the Summer 2024 work experience programme not only highlights URBOND's growth but also reinforces the importance of experiential learning in today’s job market. With plans for further expansion, URBOND is set to continue making strides in bridging the gap between education and employment. 


![work experience]( /images/assets/work2.jpg "Work experience")

 URBOND’s Summer 2024 Work Experience Programme Exceeds Expectations.


URBOND, held its second conference event to shine a light on the work the charity has done around community integration and cohesion, youth support and providing education and opportunities to children in need across the world and the impact this created during 2023. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of inspiring speeches of all three of the programmes which are the Community Integration, Youth Development and Child Education along with an insight into the goals for the year of 2024. 

The Community Integration Programme was formed off the back of local integration issues to help advance racial harmony, equality and diversity for the city of Portsmouth and so far over 50,000 people spanning 80 different nationalities have benefitted from the programme.

The charity’s Youth Development Programme is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for underserved young people and their future and is addressing prevalent issues in the city such as youth crime, obesity, low literacy rates and unemployment. In 2023, URBOND saw almost 8,000 young participants with 156 of those engaged every single week, organised over 400 activities and spent a staggering 1,131 hours with young people.

URBOND’S Child Education Programme is helping improve child education and provide opportunities to children in need in the Republic of Guinea (Africa), where there are major shortfalls and a severe lack of opportunities for young people. You will be able to hear from some of the charity volunteers who took the trip to the Republic of Guinea in October 2023 at the event where they will share their experiences. Since inception, the charity has supported over 20,000 primary school children under the programme, donated over 15,000 basic items and study materials and empowered teachers and parents on the need for education.

URBOND Conference 2024


On 26th January, URBOND hosted its first conference. Our guests enjoyed an afternoon of presentations of all three of the programmes which are the Community Integration, Youth Development and Child Education along with an insight into the charity goals for 2023.

Under the charity’s Community Integration Programme, [URBOND](https://www.linkedin.com/company/urbond/) have succeeded to bring together a staggering 40,583 people in Portsmouth spanning 78 different nationalities since inception in 2013. In 2022 alone, the charity had over 2,500 participants and beneficiaries under the programme.

URBOND Youth Development Programme, which is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for young people, has benefitted almost 4,000 participants in the city with 147 of those engaging with the charity activities and support every single week. The charity works with children and young people particularly where issues such as crime and low-income are prevalent.

URBOND’s Child Education Programme has seen almost 3,000 primary school children supported in The Republic of Guinea, West Africa which is working to improve children's access to education in areas where they would otherwise go without. In 2022, the URBOND built a brand-new toilet facility for girls which over 600 girls now have access to every day, delivered menstruation and hygiene workshops, donated 2,200 basic items such as menstruation kits and dental hygiene equipment, taught English speaking classes to over 600 children, built a secure sports facility sponsored by the charity long term partner [Richmond Motor Group](https://www.richmondmotorgroup.com/search/) which over 1000 people now have daily access to, delivered irregular migration workshops, and facilitated disabled children with 1:1 support.

This year URBOND has plans to reach out to larger audience in Portsmouth to help advance racial harmony, equality and diversity. The Youth Development Programme is looking to grow relationships with local businesses and schools to expand and engage with more young people, providing them access to education and employment. URBOND’s Child Education Programme is planning to provide clean water to their partner school, open a technical training centre to provide job opportunities for young people, give disabled children the facilities and resources to go to school, build a school in a remote area of the country where children currently have no access to education and many more exciting projects to support the underprivileged communities.

Thank you to University of Portsmouth, Business and Law for hosting us and thank you to long term partner Richmond Motor Group for their ongoing support and POOW Media for helping change lives.


URBOND Conference 2023


Young people and their parents came along to URBONDs first Work Experience Fair to learn all about the opportunities local businesses have to offer them. It was very insightful and we are looking forward to a busy summer ahead! 
 
Thank you very much to our dedicated partners at GRP Solutions Ltd, SLR Recruit, Portsmouth Mediation Service, Hughes & Salvidge, Tall Ships, Portsmouth Library Service, POOW Media, Richmond Motor Group and NIHR for providing amazing opportunities to young people in our community.  

“Events like this allow us to come along and speak to different companies and discuss what opportunities are available” said Youth Ambassador, Julia, “Sometimes schools don’t always have the best system for work experience, so having URBOND has been really useful” said Tahidul, Young Beneficiary. 

Providing Opportunities! URBOND Work Experience Fair

On Friday 1st September, URBOND were very proud to introduce our Youth Ambassadors, who work together on issues affecting young people in our communities and help generate ideas and solutions to support everyone. It’s taken us 3 years of hard work before launching the scheme.

Our curated team of 16 Youth Ambassadors have strategically been selected among over 200 young people to work with our organisation, partners and professionals to help empower young people. They support them as they overcome obstacles, build confidence and resilience. In addition, our ambassadors work closely with us to help create opportunities, wellness and success for young people and their future. The ambassadors will progress not only in themselves but also progress the charity and be a voice for other young people in their community.


Youth Ambassadors Project


 Portsmouth Youth Awards Hosted by URBOND to celebrates inspirational and outstanding young people of the city. 


URBOND a charity that supports young people from all walks of life hosted it’s second Annual Portsmouth Youth Awards to celebrate achievements of young people over the past year.  

URBOND, a multi-award-winning Portsmouth-based charity, presented the city’s Youth Awards event at the Kings Theatre, to shine a light on the outstanding young people of Portsmouth.  

The evening had a fantastic audience in attendance, as well as being strongly supported by local businesses and organisations, other charities and Portsmouth City councillors.  


Ousmane Drame URBOND’s CEO “We are thrilled to have had such a fantastic turnout for this second edition of Portsmouth Youth Awards; an initiative dedicated to shining a light on the incredible talents and achievements of young individuals who often go unnoticed.  


These awards are not just about celebrating success, but about recognising the diverse journeys and unique contributions of young people in our communities. By highlighting their stories, we hope to inspire others and provide these deserving individuals with the recognition and opportunities they need to continue thriving. 

Our commitment to fostering inclusivity and supporting the next generation is at the heart of our organisation. We understand that many young talents face barriers that prevent their accomplishments from being acknowledged. These awards are one of our ways of ensuring that their hard work, creativity, and determination do not go unrecognised. 


It is good to see a community come to together to celebrate these extraordinary young people and amplify their voices. Together, we can build a brighter future where every young person is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential”. 

Richard Pearce Kings Theatre CEO “It is wonderful to be working with fellow local charities and sharing Portsmouth’s beautiful Kings Theatre with such a young, diverse, talented and inspirational organisation within our community. We thank URBOND for trusting us with such an important evening and hope this paves the way for many more such events in the future. 

To see so many outstanding young people being celebrated for their incredible achievements and contributions to their local community was truly humbling. And the support in the auditorium was exceptional”.  


**Julia Wisniewska Winner of Creativity Award** “Before I became involved with URBOND, I often found myself holding back in professional settings, unsure of my own voice. Growing up in England with English as my second language, I faced challenges that made public speaking a daunting task. Despite my ambition, I was often hesitant to assert myself, especially in environments where societal expectations urged me to stay quiet. 

At URBOND, I’ve been able to contribute to our local area in meaningful ways—whether through engaging with bright young minds at the Youth Club or connecting with professionals from organisations like NIHR and Portsmouth City Council. 

These experiences have transformed me. Today, I stand before you with a sense of confidence I never thought possible, especially in the realms of networking and public speaking. URBOND has truly paved the way for my personal and professional growth, providing opportunities that I will always be grateful for”. 

**Adobea Addo Winner of URBOND Award** “Having moved around a lot During my childhood, I didn’t have the chance to form deep connections or find a community where I truly felt at home. We finally settled in Portsmouth, where I discovered URBOND, one of the best experiences of my life. It has become my safe space, allowing me to forge new friendships and become part of a team as a youth ambassador, one of group of sixteen carefully chosen young people who represent the voices of our peers and strive to improve our community. At the start of our quarter, we set a goal to do at least 10 work experience placements, and I am proud to say we surpassed that target! And got a whopping 102 work experience placements. With URBOND I’m optimistic about making an even greater impact in the future, as there’s so much more we can achieve”.  

URBOND’s Youth Development is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for young people and their future and is addressing prevalent issues in the city such as youth crime, low literacy rates and unemployment. The programme is designed to support young people and provide them with the best opportunity to fulfil their potential.  

The charity’s mission, through hosting this event, was to recognise the achievements of young people from all different backgrounds in the city and create positive opportunities for those who experience systemic inequality and lack of support. 

URBOND believes that every young person has the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of their background, beliefs or circumstances. 

**Awards and Winners:** 

- **URBOND Award: Adobea Addo** 

- **Most Improved: Curtis Agha**  

- **Role-Model Award: Jay Jay Young** 

- **Best Team Player Award: Leo Page-Curley** 

- **Helper Award: Jainaba Touray**  

- **Community Award: Bethany Martin** 

- **Creativity Award: Julia Wisniewska** 

- **Visionary Award: Tasso Bakayoko Fofana**  

- **Leadership Award: Caleb Anderson** 

- **Work Experience Award: Gabriel Osman** 

- **Motiv8: Binit Ghosh** 

- **Pompey in the Community: John Clucas**  

- **Play Youth Community: Billy Crowhurst** 

- **Portsmouth Force: Malikai Sigauke**  

- **Portsmouth City of Sanctuary: Maheep Kaur**  

- **The Young Creatives: Poppy Bees-Croker**  

- **Andrew Simpson Foundation: Stanley Matthews Bunting**  

- **Music Fusion: Hugo Carey** 

![youth award]( /images/assets/yaward.jpg "Award winners")

Portsmouth Youth Awards Hosted by URBOND to celebrates inspirational and outstanding young people of the city 


On Friday 14th July, URBOND hosted Portsmouth's first ever Youth Awards event to shine a light on the outstanding young people of our city.

The event was put together to celebrate and award young people that would otherwise get overlooked because of their background or status. 

We awarded young people on a number of qualities and areas of progression we have seen over the past year. The awards included: 'Best Team Player', 'Leadership Award', 'Work Experience Award' and more. We awarded 10 young people under URBOND’s Youth Development Programme but, in addition, dedicated an award to 6 other youth provisions in Portsmouth which included Motiv8, Play Youth Community, BYAC, Pompey in the Community, Music Fusion, Young Creatives. 

The Youth Development Programme is working to drive opportunities, wellness and success for young people and their future and is addressing prevalent issues in the city such as youth crime, obesity, low literacy rates and unemployment. A programme designed to support young people and provide them with the best opportunity to fulfil their potential (particularly those within settings where issues such as crime, etc are prevalent).

Sarah Roads at SLR Marine Recruit, the event’s headline sponsor said “SLR Recruitment was so delighted to headline the URBOND Youth Awards. We champion all the great work that URBOND is doing with our younger generations in the city, providing so many outlets to be part of a community and express themselves from sports to music and dance. The pride in all the children was obvious, not only for themselves but for their friends. SLR Marine Recruitment is really looking forward to working with URBOND in the future and supporting as much as we can.” 

Congratulations to the award winners:  Aidan Law (Best Role Model), Alfie Sibley (URBOND Award), Aston Dennison (Best Helper), Bobby Shimmon (Motiv8), Brandon Smith (BYAC), Charlie Emsley (Best Team Player), Curtis Agha (Work Experience), Elijah Maketo (Outstanding Creativity), Ingrid Souza Correa (Outstanding Visionary), Joy Okechekwu (Outstanding Leadership), Keira Delahay (Most Improved), Leon Hoepfner (Music Fusion), Lexie Johnston (Pompey in the Community), Oliver Sadler (The Young Creatives), Owen Ellwood (Play Youth Community), Shaneia Ford (Community Engagement)


Youth Awards Ceremony


### Young people of Portsmouth hosts Youth Ambassador launch event to promote their outstanding ideas to improve the city

A charity that supports underserved young people hosted the Youth Ambassador Campaign Launch Event to showcase their ideas on how they would like to improve the city of Portsmouth for other young people and the wider community.

URBOND, a multi-award-winning Portsmouth-based charity, hosted the event on Friday 1st December, to support its brightest young people in their endeavours to create a safer and stronger city for all. The event attendees included: Cllr Steve Pitt (Leader of the City Council) Cllr Suzy Horton, Hampshire Constabulary, local members of the community and the parents.

URBOND is proud to introduce their Youth Ambassadors, who work together on issues affecting young people in our communities and help generate ideas and solutions to support everyone.

Their curated team of Youth Ambassadors have strategically been selected to work with the organisation, partners and professionals to help empower young people. They support them as they overcome obstacles, build confidence and resilience. In addition, the ambassadors work closely with URBOND to help create opportunities, wellness and success for young people and their future.

URBOND’s Youth Ambassadors will share their stories and represent the voices of young people from URBOND and their respective communities, work together on issues affecting youth in our communities to come up with ideas and solutions to support all young people, empower, inspire and support our youth to become young professionals, share their own and other young people’s experiences and opinions on issues affecting their development, support us and our partners to develop youth friendly policies and procedures to create more opportunities for all young people, irrespective of their beliefs, backgrounds and ideologies.

The Youth Ambassadors are supported to effectively communicate and present their ideas, views and opinions to others, Interact with young people in an inspiring and engaging way, develop their passion, enthusiasm and commitment to supporting all young people in their journey towards becoming good citizens, work as a team to solve problems and come up with new ideas, use their initiative to recognise and act on opportunities which may align with the work of Youth Ambassadors and URBOND, promote and uphold the values of equality and diversity and behave in a non-discriminatory manner.

The campaigns URBOND’s ambassadors are working towards are Health & Wellbeing, Equality & Diversity, Opportunities and Community. Some of the ideas explained at the event included increasing the number of people first aid and lifeguard trained, to improve the level of mental health care provided, introduce more accessible sport sessions, increase the number of young people placed in work experience or apprenticeships, to host inter-generational community events and much more!

URBOND CEO, Ousmane Drame, added “The city of Portsmouth has some bright young people and we strongly believe they hold the key to creating a better future for our lovely city. Our job is to make sure we work closely with our Youth Ambassadors to make sure all young people in the city are provided with the tools and opportunities so they can do better in life. We are calling on all the

businesses, organisations and professionals in the local area to get in touch to find out how we can work together for the best interest of our city.”

 > A very inspiring event. I am looking forward to hearing what the Ambassadors have achieved over the next year. Cllr Steve Pitt

Cllr Suzy Horton who also attended the event made the following comment :

> The future looks great with these young people already leading in their community. I am very impressed

Youth Ambassadors Campaign Launch


We are very excited to announce the launch of the URBOND Youth Club! 

Children are often mentally challenged, isolated and unhappy! Youth clubs can be great places for kids to get back on their feet, with renewed confidence and a real sense of well-being and belonging. Not only these, but children also find youth clubs great places to make new friends and to become part of a new social group.

URBOND Youth Club is on every Tuesday Friday from 5pm at the at the Portsmouth Deaf Centre, PO1 1XL from 5pm. It is open access and free entry to all young people who would like to join us that are aged 8 and above.


The launch of the URBOND Youth Club



The Waterfront Restorative Approaches Partnership (WRAP) is a collaboration of local agencies, charities and residents who have a vision to see the summer seafront become a safer place for our young people and their families. It was great URBOND and partners to come together and working together on hosting such a brilliant Youth Sports Day Event. 

The PMS Service Manager Steve commented “Collaboration and partnership are key pillars in the city wide restorative journey. The success of working with young people comes through the real relationships that are our youth organisations forge, helping our young people to belong and believe in the community and their future – everyone who is part of the WRAP wants to support and contribute towards this”. 


![sports day]( /images/assets/sportsday2.jpeg "Sports Day")

 Sports Day 2024


URBOND Hosts Safeguarding Workshop to Empower Young Voices in Policy Shaping 

Young people from across Portsmouth gathered for a powerful workshop on safeguarding, hosted by URBOND’s Youth Ambassadors Programme. The session was led by Lucy and Scott from Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnerships.  

The workshop focused on how safeguarding practices can be improved in ways that truly reflect the needs and lived experiences of children and young people in the city. Through open discussion and collaboration, participants explored how systems and services can be shaped to better protect and support all young people, particularly those whose voices are often left out.  

The session supports one of URBOND’s core objectives of creating youth-friendly, inclusive policies that serve all young people, regardless of background, beliefs, or ideologies. 

URBOND extends its sincere thanks to Lucy and Scott for delivering such a meaningful and impactful session. 

Providing Opportunities! URBOND Work Experience Fair

Youth Voices Matter – Youth Safeguarding Workshop

Community Comes Together for Landport and Buckland SOUP Awards

New Creative Project Space at URBOND!

URBOND Moves to New Space at City Buildings in Portsmouth

URBOND Celebrates 5th Annual Charity Ball