Kyla is a 14-year-old young person I have had the privilege of supporting since late 2024. She is bright, thoughtful, and quietly determined, with a brilliant sense of humour once she feels comfortable. Getting to know Kyla has been a genuinely rewarding experience, and watching her grow in confidence has been a highlight of my work.
South London Stories: Having someone in your corner
Bianca is a Targeted Intervention Officer at Palace for Life Foundation. This is her reflection on supporting Kyla through mentoring, from their first conversations together to the confidence and independence Kyla shows today.
When we first began meeting, Kyla was finding it difficult to feel settled and secure in herself. Big emotions sometimes felt overwhelming, and she wasn’t always sure how to make sense of what she was feeling. Our time together focused on creating a calm, reliable space where she could talk openly, feel heard, and slowly begin to trust the process. Consistency was key, showing up regularly, keeping things predictable, and allowing the relationship to develop naturally over time.
In our sessions, we explored simple tools to help Kyla understand her emotions and respond to them more gently. This included reflective activities, creative conversations, and practical calming strategies that she could use in everyday moments. Over time, Kyla became much more confident at recognising what was going on for her internally and choosing how she wanted to respond. Seeing her begin to use these skills independently has been a real joy.
A huge source of happiness for Kyla is gymnastics. With the support from our community fund, which helps young people access opportunities that support their growth and future aspirations, Kyla was able to enjoy a full year of gymnastics sessions and receive the kit she needed to take part comfortably and confidently. Returning to training gave her a renewed sense of purpose and something positive to look forward to each week. She now regularly takes part in training, showcases and competitions, which she absolutely loves. Gymnastics has helped strengthen her confidence, focus and self-belief, and it’s lovely to see how proud she feels of her progress.
We also spent time setting small, achievable goals and celebrating the wins along the way, whether that was trying something new, building confidence, or simply showing up on a tough day. Some of our most meaningful conversations happened in relaxed moments, which helped build trust and laughter into our sessions. Even when we couldn’t meet face-to-face, staying connected through check-ins kept the relationship steady and supportive.
Kyla has also discovered a love of live football and recently experienced attending her first match in a special viewing area at our home ground stadium, which she talked about with huge excitement and pride. Moments like this have helped broaden her confidence and given her positive memories to hold onto.
Although we no longer meet as frequently, our connection continues through regular check-ins that allow us to maintain a strong and supportive relationship. Kyla remains open, engaged, and reflective, consistently showing maturity in how she approaches challenges and new experiences. Over time, I have equipped Kyla with effective emotional regulation tools that help her manage her feelings and responses with confidence and self-awareness. She understands that she can access my support whenever she needs it and continues to demonstrate independence while still valuing the connection and guidance available to her. It’s been rewarding to see her apply these skills in meaningful ways, fostering both her resilience and personal growth.
Kyla is a pleasure to work with and consistently brings warmth, honesty and determination into our sessions. Supporting her has reinforced the importance of steady, trusting relationships, while also contributing to my own professional development — increasing my self-awareness and expanding my knowledge of local services and opportunities. I remain incredibly proud of Kyla’s continued growth and grateful to have supported her journey.
About Palace for Life Foundation
Palace for Life is the official charity of Crystal Palace Football Club and has supported the South London community for over 30 years. They use the power and pull of Crystal Palace F.C. to improve lives and strengthen communities with a focus on young people who need them most.
Each year, their dedicated coaches and mentors work with more than 18,000 young people through education, employability, mentoring and physical activity programmes. They prioritise areas of deprivation, delivering free sport and community sessions alongside dedicated pastoral support that builds confidence, resilience and positive life skills.
They provide specialist one-to-one mentoring for those facing mental health challenges, and for young people in or at risk of entering the justice system. Their employability programmes create clear pathways into education, training and work.
They are a trusted partner to local schools, businesses and national organisations. They believe everyone deserves opportunity and, by supporting those who need us most, they help build stronger communities across South London while deepening the bond between the Club and its community.
Palace for Life is a registered charity (no. 1125878)