“I often felt misunderstood and had difficulty dealing with my emotions; I was very angry,” actress Nkechi Simms told a group of young people at the North London Student Referral Unit (PRU).

It is part of a mentoring scheme aimed at supporting young people in PRUs across the capital.

It has received £2.3 million in support from the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to expand the number of guides to cover all 32 boroughs.

PRUs are providers of alternative education for children who have been excluded from school or are otherwise unable to participate in a mainstream setting.

“I was expelled from school when I was 12 and spent my whole education moving around different PRUs,” Ms Simms told BBC London, adding that despite this “I managed to make it.”

“That’s why I’m so passionate about coming out and supporting young people.”

He was joined by his mentor Christian Foley, a rapper and teacher, at Enfield’s PRU Orchardside School, where London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the funding increase.

The council said the funding would provide one-to-one and group counseling for a further 2,200 young people in the capital and that the program would form a “critical element” of the mayor’s “approach to tackling violence”.

Between September 2022 and July 2024, more than 1,500 young people in 22 counties were supported by VRU-funded mentors.

Over these two academic years, 82% of student referral units and alternative service settings reported increased participation of mentored youth and improved relationships with peers and teaching staff.

Ms. Simms added that general education settings are sometimes “not designed for these kids.”

He starred in a TV series 2022 BBC Three comedy It’s about young people living their lives in the PRU.

“When they come into these environments, they often have a lot to deal with,” Ms. Simms said.

“Having a mentor is a really good way to have personal interaction with these young people and encourage them to think more positively about their future.”

Charlie is a Grade 10 student receiving mentorship at Orchardside.

He said: “Whenever I have a bad day or get angry, my mentor helps me by making good jokes and doing a fun activity with me like cycling, football, table tennis.

“The mentoring sessions helped me improve my behavior and created a reflective space for me to think and change my methods.”

Celeste Fay, headteacher at Orchardside School, said the mentoring program was the “most valuable experience” for students.

“Our mentoring approach evolves around constant positive regard and nurturing engagement.

“Reinforcing the message that they have a stake in society and their lives, mentoring in our school is about stewardship, responsibility and personal development.”

Khan added: “I am committed to investing in young people and giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive in our great city.

“The key to this is education and being in school, where we know young people are safe and supported to develop and grow.”

Additional reporting by Local Democracy Reporter Noah Vickers.