We are a not-for-profit organization based in Norwich, a private company limited by guarantee, in which any profits are used to the benefit of our community.

On-Your-Side Norwich Ltd is dedicated to empowering young people from ethnic minorities and their families to overcome marginalisation and low educational expectations so that they can play an active and valuable part in their local communities.

The vision is to see that all young people reach their full potential irrespective of their background and family circumstances.

Our mission is to inspire, empower and encourage young people to overcome their challenges, to thrive and achieve their full potential.

The values we hold are guided by our commitment to integration, inclusivity and equality for all and a cooperative spirit in working with schools and other agencies.

Maryann Wareke

Maryann Wareke is the founder of On-You-Side. She is passionate about improving the performance of the individual and is committed to bringing a counter-balance to the deficit model of underperformance in education and in employment which currently surrounds ethnic minorities.

Having triumphed through the trials of a 10-year process of claiming asylum, she has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by ethnic minority people in accessing educational and employment opportunities.

The challenges that the children face in school are compounded by parental language barriers, poverty and cultural difference. These difficulties have spurred her current efforts to advocate for them, to promote excellence and shape their future.

Based in Norwich and now a qualified professional with a degree in Social Work, Maryann is a role model, mentor, and counsellor who is determined to improve the prospects of vulnerable ethnic minorities.

Peter Ryden

Peter provides book-keeping and administrative support to the team. For many years he has provided mentoring support to students whose first language is not English by reading and providing guidance and feedback on their written work.

He is also a trustee with 15 years’ experience working as an honorary secretary in the charitable sector and 25 years as treasurer in his parish church.

We help and encourage young people from ethnic minorities to remain in education in order to achieve their full potential for their future careers. The impact of lockdown has been particularly acute for vulnerable children from ethnic minority groups so On-Your-Side is an ideal partner to choose to overcome the challenges outlined below:

What are the problems today?

Low Educational Engagement
The disadvantaged learning gap widened in 2020, with low engagement with remote learning and low attendance during partial school re-opening

Disproportionate risk of exclusion
Some young people from ethnic minorities are at greater risk of exclusion. In the school year 2018-2019 in Norfolk there were 8 permanent and 440 temporary exclusions of non-white children

Cultural conflict
Disruptive behaviour on the part of a child or adolescent can arise from the cultural clash that they are unable to resolve between parental and contemporary social behaviour

Unemployment and poverty
During 2020 ethnic minority young people suffered a greater loss of earnings and increased unemployment, especially among those aged 16-24

Misunderstandings by school management
In areas of low ethnic diversity, school governors lack experience and ethnic minorities are under-represented

How we address them

For young people

Mentoring > Peer and professional mentoring
Advocacy > At school meetings to discuss challenges such as bullying or threats of exclusion
Training > Resilience, self-awareness, and self-confidence to enable young people to fit in with the prevailing society, while not compromising their own culture
Well-being > Developing a resilient temperament involves dealing with mental health problems and managing expectations
Youth Group > Weekly activities

For young people and their families

Multi-systemic therapy > To assess intra-familial tensions in a wider context
Mediation > Between child, parent and school where a language barrier is impairing communication
Signposting > Information, advice and guidance
We also offer support to refugees and asylum seekers

For teachers/professionals
Continuing professional development > Cultural Awareness training and FGM awareness training

My brother and I had been in trouble at school and temporarily excluded but Maryann intervened and we were able to remain at school, so thanks to her I am now looking forward to going to University. N.T.

Maryann is a very dear person to our family. She has helped in contacting the college to sort out the support available for my sister who has some learning disabilities. Because of the language barrier, Maryann would mediate between my family and other services. N.R.

Maryann has great knowledge of support services, taking time off to come with us to appointments at the Council and assisting us in filling forms; she can point you in the right direction. W.R.

I didn’t realised I was entitled to take annual leave and paid sick leave. I was very fortunate to come across Maryann. She intervened for me and for the first time in 2 years I was able to take my annual leave and be paid for my sick leave. I am very grateful to her for helping me obtain what I was owed. E.M.