A Six-Year Journey of Belief, Growth and Connection

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Six years ago, TKN looked very different.

The team was small, resources were limited, and much of the work ahead still lived in ideas and ambition. But even then, the heart of TKN was already clear – a belief in children, in connection, and in the power of trusted relationships to help young people thrive.

That was the organisation Joni joined in 2019.

“We were a team of five with big dreams,” she remembers.  “I still remember my interview - The Founder’s passion drew me in straight away, and the mission and vision of TKN really spoke to me. That same spark continues to inspire and motivate me six years later.”

Where it all began

Long before joining TKN, mentoring had already played a defining role in Joni’s life. Growing up, football was central to who she was, and within the game she found mentors everywhere – coaches, teammates and older players who guided her both on and off the pitch.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for my mentors,” she reflects. “The values I hold today, I learnt from them.”

So when she came across TKN’s mission rooted in consistency, care and belief in children it felt deeply familiar. It felt like a place where her own experiences could shape something meaningful for others.

Growing through challenge

A few months into Joni’s time at TKN, the world changed when COVID-19 hit. Routines disappeared overnight and isolation became a reality for many children. While much of life slowed down, the need for connection grew stronger than ever.

TKN responded quickly. The team reimagined the programme, launching into digital mentoring, supporting little Londoners on our programme using regular phone calls and the Brightside mentoring app to keep in contact so children still had someone checking in, listening and showing up. We also wanted to reach more children in need during this time of isolation.

Through this shift, TKN was able to support an additional 40 children during a time of heightened need. It became a defining moment – not just for the organisation, but for how Joni understood the importance of adaptability and trust in times of uncertainty.

The challenges didn’t stop there. The cost-of-living crisis brought new pressures for families, schools and communities. But again, the response was grounded in flexibility and a commitment to meeting children where they were.

Each transition strengthened TKN’s resolve and reaffirmed what sits at the centre of the work: connection.

Growing with TKN

Over six years, Joni’s role has grown alongside the organisation itself.

She began as a Volunteer Coordinator, helping to launch TKN’s programme in South London for the very first time. Starting in Southwark, her focus was on building the programme from the ground up – supporting mentoring pairs, nurturing partnerships and embedding TKN’s values locally.

By the end of her first three years, the programme had expanded into Lambeth, Lewisham and Greenwich. Lambeth grew so quickly that it became its own programme, requiring a dedicated coordinator.

As responsibilities deepened, the role evolved into Programme Manager. After four years, Joni stepped into a Team Lead position, and in January 2025 she joined TKN’s senior leadership team as Programme Leader, overseeing programme delivery across the organisation.

“As TKN has grown, I’ve grown with it – from working directly with children and mentors to helping shape how we deliver impact at scale.”

Moments that capture the spirit of TKN

Over the years, certain moments have captured the heart of what TKN is about.

One that stands out is the Child Panel. Working closely with children who had completed or were nearing the end of their mentoring journey, Joni and our team met with them regularly to listen to their reflections and experiences.

Supporting the children to create a video for new programme inductions was especially meaningful. They led the entire project themselves from filming to directing. Watching their confidence grow was a powerful reminder of why child voice matters.

Another set of memories comes from group mentoring sessions, where mentoring pairs come together to explore new experiences. Some of the most impactful were football-related trips and stadium visits, particularly women’s matches.

For many children, these were first-time experiences – walking into a stadium, watching a live game, and seeing women take centre stage in sport. Watching both girls and boys celebrate women’s football felt powerful, by challenging assumptions and opening up new ideas about who belongs where.

For Joni, sessions with Chelsea FC carried a personal significance. Having spent part of her younger years there, she knows first-hand how access and opportunity can shape ambition.

“Being able to help open those doors for other children, and to let them know that they can go after their passions and interests, felt like a full circle moment – to be able to pay it forward”

Stories that stay with you

Joni has seen hundreds of mentoring relationships form. But some stories stayed with her.

One of those pairs were Aimee and K.

K was a 10-year-old who came to TKN with a big personality and a love for sport and games. He had also been diagnosed with ADHD, which at times affected his confidence and how he viewed himself. What he needed was someone patient and understanding – a consistent adult who could help him manage big feelings and recognise his strengths.

Aimee connected with K instantly. They shared energy, curiosity and humour. Even more than that, they connected on a deeper level as Aimee also had ADHD, this helped to create a bond through shared experience.  

"you don't judge me, I just do random stuff like, trip up on purpose...or run into stuff... and you don't judge me about it. I do random stuff like dancing in front of my friends. My friends  say 'why are you doing that?', but when I do that with you, you just join in. You're a perfect friend"  

With over 40 sessions under their belt, they were able to explore London together, talk openly about difficult topics, build scrapbooks of memories and turn setbacks into moments of creativity.

A great example is from a session where K’s football was accidentally run over by a bus. What could have become a dampened memory turned into one of reassurance and humour. They talked it through, laughed, took photos and even kept the ball to use in their scrapbook!

For Joni it’s stories like these that reflect the very best of TKN – patience, creativity, consistency and belief.

Pride in scale and in stories

During her time as Programme Manager, Joni supported 200 mentoring pairs, leading to over 4,000 sessions and over 6,000 hours of consistent, trusted support.

But for her, the numbers only matter because of what they represent.

“They represent hundreds of children being consistently shown up for, week after week.”

Joni had seen countless children come through our programme, each with their own challenges, backgrounds, and circumstances. There is one thing that was always clear to Joni - “...regardless of why a child is referred, the outcome of the programme is remarkably similar. This is because TKN knows every child is unique, so our programme adapts to meet them where they are. Making their mentoring experience truly personalised, flexible and meaningful”.

In 2022, Joni was named Volunteer Coordinator of the Year at the Southwark Stars Awards by Community Southwark. While this was an unexpected achievement, it felt like recognition of something collective – the power of volunteer-led work and the shared effort behind it.

A team built on shared purpose

What has kept Joni at TKN for six years is the people – everyone from our staff, and our incredible mentors, to the schools, caregivers and of course our little Londoners. Joni reflected that “Everyone I have had the pleasure of interacting with, has kept me motivated to continue this work.”.

There is a deep sense of collaboration, openness and shared purpose across the team. Everyone is working towards the same goal – reaching more children, and doing so with care, integrity and keeping child voice at the centre.

Leading and supporting the Programmes team has been especially rewarding. Watching people grow in confidence, take on new challenges and develop belief in themselves mirrors the same journey TKN hopes to create for children.

Supporting a team so committed to giving mentors the best possible guidance so that mentors can, in turn, show up consistently for children is something Joni speaks about with real pride.

Looking ahead

As TKN continues to grow, Joni hopes the organisation will always remain truly child-led – listening deeply, adapting thoughtfully and centring children’s voices in every decision.

Looking forward, she is excited by the possibility of reaching children in every London borough and becoming the organisation families and schools instinctively trust for mentoring support.

A big part of that vision is people.

For Joni, growth means more mentors because more mentors means more children can be matched with someone who understands them and believes in their potential.

She is also excited about expanding TKN beyond London, learning from new communities and carrying the heart of the programme into new places.

And if she were to leave a legacy, it would be this: children feeling genuinely heard, believed in and supported to thrive.

That legacy is already visible in so many ways. And so, we want to say thank you.

Thank you, Joni, for the countless ways you’ve shown up for TKN over the last six years. For the care you’ve given to children, the guidance you’ve offered mentors, and the leadership and steadiness you bring to the team. For holding our values at the centre of everything you do, and for showing year after year, what it means to lead with compassion and belief in others.

TKN wouldn’t be the organisation it is today without you. We are so grateful for everything you’ve given, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

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