About us
We are passionate in our belief that London communities desperately need local hubs to provide a set of safe, secure and proactive services. The AY-Group has sought to achieve this, created in 2015 to help residents develop their skills and gain employment while offering them a wide range of activities to participate in. Our hub seeks to provide a cellular office opportunity, designed as a space to both work and learn.
We help young people in your community, Hammersmith and Fulham (H&F) and other areas in London to go from being unemployed or unemployable to become skilled and then helping them get into work or start their own business.
What is a CIO?
CIOs are limited companies, with special additional features, created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage.
This is achieved by a “community interest test” and “asset lock” which ensures that the CIO is established for community purpose, assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes. Registration of a company as a CIO has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.”
Registered Charity Number- 1195163
Our Team
Danny Barnes
CEO
In 2015, AY Group was set up and so Danny was born! As AY Group Chef Executive Officer, he knows what he wants and is dedicated to help the youth make their dreams come true. Mix enthusiasm, target orientation, positivity and professionalism together with over 6 years of experience in management, you get a great team leader, called Danny Barnes.
Tamasin Byrne
Trustee
Iram Rafiq
Trustee
Glory Kasongo
Trustee
Our Volunteers
Daniela Salvi, Gifty jhonson, Eli Vasileva, Dylan Chung, Merveille Mpoyi, Oula Ismail, Maria Espinoza, Henry Yao,
Tisha Rabadia, Paul Zabnienski
Last updated: 16th February 2022
A Word from our CEO
“I’m on a mission to help as many people as possible” – Danny Barnes
This is achieved by a “community interest test” and “asset lock” which ensures that the CIO is established for community purpose, assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes. Registration of a company as a CIO has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.”
“Whenever I tell people my story, they’re inspired to change their lives; I’ve been in prison myself, I’ve been in gangs, I’ve been homeless, my sister died of Leukaemia at 14 and I grew up not knowing my mum. Because of this, I’m able to engage with young people and I know exactly what they are going through, having been through the same experience.”
Danny wanted to raise the aspirations of young people in inner London who were unemployed and didn’t expect to get work because they lacked both skills and opportunities. He wanted to make a positive contribution to the lives of those young people, by increasing their self-esteem and confidence, giving them new skills and ultimately helping them become more employable.
This is achieved by a “community interest test” and “asset lock” which ensures that the CIO is established for community purpose, assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes. Registration of a company as a CIO has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.”
They also offer the chance for young people to volunteer within the organization so they can gain valuable work experience.
“When a young person comes to us, they might not be ready to go into a job, so we ask them what they want to achieve, work out what we can do for them and then help them to reach their goals.”
Danny recognises that some young people have the potential to start their own businesses. To help them get started, he set up an Enterprise Club in partnership with NatWest. This offers young people the opportunity to do a business course to make sure they’re on the right track and have the best chance to make it on their own.
Acknowledging Youths is going from strength to strength, now running a Charitable Incorporated Organisation staffed by volunteers with Danny as CEO. Their initiative has been recognised with several contracts from the DWP to work in Westminster, Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Southwark and looking to expand in entire London.
“I know our approach works and I’m determined to carry on and show that it can be done.”
Acknowledging Youths works and support those young people in the community who are vulnerable or neglected. From juvenile ex-offenders, drug dealers, gang members, young people in care and pupil referral units – for young people who are not able to attend mainstream education often due to exclusion. Engaging with over 4000 young people to date, helping to tackle the nationwide issue of youth unemployment through a community focused grassroots initiative.