Testimonials

Exodus Youth Worx UK is a charity founded by Miss Tara is one of the best charities I’ve seen. Not only do they provide you with essentials you may not be able to afford but they are a massive support system, one could even say a huge family. Tara and her team have helped tremendously with things like; providing young carers and teens like me pathway and career opportunities for the future but also paid work experience opportunities due to her connections. She’s also allowed me to volunteer at her youth centre where I’ve been able to get to know and play with younger kids and make them feel happy and heard. My favourite volunteering I did for Tara was her Christmas shop called ‘Love Christmas’ in Enfield Town where we gave away donations and created over 100 gift bags which we gave to people in secondary schools and younger communities. Exodus continues to spread their love wherever they can whether it’s through their HELP programme, sport activities for younger children or even volunteering.

AA

18 years old

I have been a volunteer at Exodus Youth Worx UK since its launch in February 2020, and the impact it's had on my personal growth and development has been huge. I co-launched the HELP Programme (Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Programme), which focuses on equipping young people with essential life skills that are often overlooked (specifically nutrition, budgeting, cooking and financial literacy) and Im glad that its still running and helping so many.

Through Exodus, I received incredible support with CV building, work experience opportunities, and developing core life skills. They also helped me with writing my personal statement, selecting university options, and preparing for the future with confidence. More than just practical support, Exodus ignited a passion in me to give back to my community and continue investing in the lives of other young people.

Their open access youth provision, coaching, and tailored support for each individual truly makes a difference, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

DH

19 years old

The workers go out of their way to provide for us. I can join in all activities and help with things when I like. With more money, there will be more people to communicate with. It’s important as I want to speak about stuff I have going on. We learn life skills like CPR to save people's lives.

A

14 years old

If we ask for something, say chicken for dinner; they make it happen. They always listen to feedback. The new activities will help us learn about ourselves and our lives which is important as it’s not easy trying to be a good young person in Edmonton.

HH

14 years old

I suggested that we get a ping-pong table. It finally came and I love it. The leaders saw me making bracelets and got more materials. I enjoy getting involved and helping with younger kids. I would love for us to get funding so I can make more friends and take part in a lot more fun, free activities. I would love to speak to a youth coach.

WS

15 years old

If we have something to share with the leaders; they listen and they provide for us. I have volunteered with the youngers and had responsibility to make sure they were cared for. I think these activities would benefit youth who are less fortunate and have nothing positive to do. They would know that the hub is open and that they’re welcome. Hub provides hot meals which means if you’re having issues at home, you can come here for hot meals that fill you up. Hub is the perfect place to provide this.

HA

13 years old

These activities will help us escape dangers of the streets and rising knife crimes in our area as they provide fun, social and engaging activities. I volunteer as Young Leader. I feel like the youth at hub like to be here so they’re not at home or on the streets – I don’t know which is worse.

HKP

19 years old

I'm a Young Leader and help run sessions. I know these activities will benefit me as it's an escape from school and home where I am comfortable and enjoy the presence of my friends in a safe, fun environment.

BJ

19 years old

I used to hang around with friends in the basketball courts. Tara invited us in. At first, I wasn’t sure but now we come loads, eat dinner, and talk about stuff that no one else talks about. I also take food home if there is any left.

AM

18 years old

Volunteering at Exodus Youth Worx Uk is a really valuable experience for me. It gives me the chance to develop leadership skills, interact with, and support young people and children in my community in a meaningful way, and build professional relationships. The team always supports and encourages their volunteers to grow and genuinely cares about their well-being. Exodus offers staff and volunteers training and educational opportunities, as well as amazing job opportunities.

It’s also really rewarding to witness children having a good time in a safe place where they feel welcomed and supported. They all know each other, and newcomers are embraced by youth immediately — it truly feels like a big family. Everyone is treated with respect, and the environment is always positive and inclusive.

At Exodus, the youth really have the opportunity to learn and practice how to interact with others, treat their peers with respect, work as a team, and build confidence. They are also recognized and awarded for several achievements.

Through volunteering, I’ve learned so much about working with others, planning activities, building professional relationships, and being a positive role model for younger people. It’s great to have an organisation like Exodus running in my community.

Evelyn

Adult Volunteer

At this critical moment in society, spaces that support the community are more important than ever. Volunteering carries an impact equal to that of the support received, and Exodus’ Love Christmas Hub highlighted the needs of individuals on fragile ground—some of which were only temporarily met. For others, the support, attention, advice, and resources accessed during this time provided a renewed focus and a fresh perspective. The Love Christmas Hub became a safe and welcoming focal point for a diverse community, bringing together a wide range of experiences, voices, ideas, and resources in one place, while raising funds for the charity and providing support, resources, essentials and gifts to those in the community who would otherwise go without.

Marianna Michael

Adult Volunteer

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed volunteering at the Love Christmas project in December.

The set up was ideal, both with accepting donations to sell for the charity and the generous donations of new items to go in the bags of love.

The help that the volunteers gave was very much appreciated by Tara and it was great talking to members of the public explaining about the charity, and the idea of the Love Christmas Project. Often people are only too happy to support charitable events and this is a really good way to enable people to do just that.

Looking forward to helping at the next one!

Christine Clark

Rotary

I volunteered in the Love Christmas shop with my husband and children. We all really enjoyed helping in the shop, meeting the customers and other volunteers and most of all wearing the penguin costume.

The shop was well organised, and we all enjoyed our experience. It was important for me to involve my children, and they were made to feel very welcome as they gave out biscuits, greeted the customers, and understood the purpose of what they were doing.

The shop was very well staffed with volunteers from our local community all supporting this initiative. I work in Edmonton where there is high need for this support and it was lovely to help create Christmas gift hampers for those who need them.

Hannah Bawden

Edmonton Community Partnership

My fiancé and I had the best time being part of Love Christmas Pop Up last year! It was so special to see how much joy it brought to families and the community. Everyone involved was welcoming, organized, and clearly passionate about making the experience memorable. My fiancé and I loved helping and being part of something so festive and meaningful. Such a wonderful event, honestly!

Elizabeth Sade Adebodun

Jubilee Church

Love Christmas 2025 was such an amazing experience! It was all about bringing joy, hope, and connection to the community this festive season.

One of my favourite parts was the Bags of Kindness initiative — helping put a smile on people’s faces with thoughtful gifts and essentials. Seeing how much joy these small gestures brought was really special.

The Community Café was another highlight. It was so nice to see people come together, sharing meals, hot drinks, and snacks, chatting and enjoying each other’s company. It was such a warm, welcoming space and a real reminder of how important connection is.

We also set up a Community Wall, where people could write what community means to them. Reading everyone’s thoughts was so inspiring — it really showed the power of togetherness.

And having the shop open to the public for three weeks was amazing! It created a space full of warmth, joy, and connection, and it felt really special seeing people come through the doors, sharing smiles and holiday spirit.

This festive season really reminded me that even the smallest things — a bag of kindness, a hot drink, a smile, or just a message on the wall — can make a big difference in people’s lives. 💛

Fotini Onal

Coach and Mentor

My time spent with Love Christmas was incredibly rewarding, insightful, and memorable. I am blessed to have contributed to creating gift bags for young people, engaged with people in the Enfield community, and helped raise donations for such an important initiative. The proactivity of Exodus Youth Worx speaks to the dedication and selflessness of the organisation and is an example of the compassion everyone in the wider community needs. On one of the days I volunteered, I brought along a friend who enjoyed her time and added to the vibrance and warmth of the Hub. Each day was a new, impactful experience and I’m honoured to have learned so much and connected with such kind people!

Daniella Serwania

Kings College University

Amazing experience to share with the community. And it gave me as a young person work experience.

Anonymous

Volunteer

Volunteered in the shop alongside other community members, making drinks in the community cafe and providing a listening ear. Enjoyed working alongside young people and others in the community as part of a team.

Anonymous

Volunteer

Volunteering in the Love Christmas pop-up shop was such a special experience. It was amazing to see faith put into action in such a practical and welcoming way. The team created a warm, joyful space where generosity, kindness, and dignity were at the centre of everything. Serving alongside other volunteers and connecting with the community really captured the true heart of Christmas and showed how Love Christmas makes a real and lasting impact.

Asta Abukauskaite

Jubilee Church

Love Christmas 2025 another fantastic fundraising experience a lovely place to meet new people and spread the word about the magnificent work Mrs Hanna does for all the young people who she's has the privilege to help and their families 😊

Anabela Miguel

Volunteer

Love Christmas was such a great experience. It was my first time having the privilege to serve those who are less fortunate, making a difference to peoples day. It was so nice to meet new people all with a kind heart to serve. Packing together, eating together and talking together. Having an opportunity to directly help those who need it most I know was blessing for everyone involved and we were too rewarded by the opportunity to share hope through the gospel, see smiles, gratitude and hear peoples stories, really putting into perspective how being made homeless could happen to anyone and how privileged I really am. I am so looking forward to the next outreach. Can’t wait!

Emmanuel

Homeless Outreach Volunteer

Supporting the community within my free time, gave me the confidence that I needed to realise my potential in working with the community to support various roles.

Stella Michael

Volunteer

The Love Christmas pop-up felt special. Even before the unit officially opened, I saw people stopping to ask what it was, how it worked and when they could come back. This, to me, says so much about what Exodus had already created before a single donation was placed on the shelves.

The volunteers were incredible. There were many of them. Each person brought warmth, care and a kind of winter-sun energy that immediately made the space feel welcoming. It didn’t feel like a shop. It felt very much like a community. Some of the conversations I witnessed and took part in around the community table were powerful and deeply connective.

Watching Exodus and the team support shoppers was genuinely moving. I saw so much care and sensitivity in the way they read between the lines, ensuring people were provided for with dignity and without judgement. Nothing felt rushed or transactional, just human.

What Exodus achieved in such a short space of time was truly transformative. They changed the space. I watched it become somewhere warm, thoughtful and full. I reckon the impact it had on the community will be felt far beyond Christmas.

Shae Eccleston

CEO and Founder of

Curate Your Genius

On behalf of everyone at NYCC, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Exodus for their invaluable support in making this Christmas truly special for our families.

Your generous contributions of food and gifts have brought joy and warmth to many hearts during this festive season.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our community.

Marisa Spence

Community Support Worker

For a few days over the Christmas holidays, I volunteered as a part of Exodus Youthworx’s Love Christmas team. I was able to work alongside other volunteers to create gift bags, attract people in our pop-up shop, gift wrap presents and spread the Christmas cheer. Helping to bring a little extra magic to their holiday season reminded me of the power of kindness and generosity. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and I'm so grateful to have been part of such a meaningful cause.

Thank you so much, it was so fun being a part of the team.

Gabriella Boateng

Exodus Youth Leader

My daughter has been involved in wonderful sessions at the youth club called the HELP programme. This programme has fundamentally assisted my child to create wonderful nutritional foods and drinks.

Recipe information was given so that she could use the skills learned at club to share amongst her friends and family and practise making foods and drinks at home.

My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed making smoothies made from various fruits and vegetables. Information about the different fruits and vegetables and which vitamins she could receive whilst consuming was very informative and she found this interesting.

Her and her friends made burgers and cupcakes which helped her be more hands on and understand the type of ingredients needed to create the foods she enjoys.

This has been an amazing programme for my daughter to be involved in as she learned nutritional and transferable skills.

My daughter went on to be referred to Cooking Champions which is an organisation that helps families in the Enfield borough. We were able to be involved in free half term cooking activities.

Fotini (Mum) and Angelina

8 Years old

It’s nearly two years that I bring my grandson to the EXODUS HUB and, I am a volunteer there.

I believe it’s a very helpful and nice place where you can meet people from different backgrounds and learning new skills.

Me and my grandson are so happy getting every week the possibility to learn while having fun and meeting friends.

In particular my grandson enjoyed: taking part in the HELP programme where he was cooking and eating healthy food, making craft, playing football and other games with his friends including games about money and how to look after his mental health.

Besides he learned to relate to others improving his relationships, feeling more confident, open mind and respectful especially he learned to behave himself.

About me I appreciate the possibilities to develop new skills improving the existing ones and being helpful for the children while improving their life.