Exodus Youth Worx are our Charity of the Year for 2024/25. The local charity was selected from a strong field of 18 nominees put forward by the local community. Read on to find out more about the charity from Tara Hanna, the CEO OF Exodus Youth Worx.
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hi. I’m Tara Hanna and I’m the CEO of Exodus Youth Worx UK. I’ve lived in Edmonton and Enfield my whole life and I’m married with three teenage daughters, one of whom we foster.
After spending more that 20 years in Corporate London working for Tiffany & Co, Bacardi Ltd and Kingfisher Plc, I decided to leave that life and find my “Ikigai” and set up Exodus Youth Worx UK which I have run for the past 5 years. I love being creative, cooking, reading, and travelling. You can find me singing along to some gospel music or curled up with a self-development book if I get the chance.
Tell us a little bit about Exodus Youth Worx UK, how it started and its mission.
Exodus Youth Worx UK is a registered charity dedicated to empowering and supporting young people through youth provision, mentoring, creative programs, and community engagement. Inspired by a similar initiative in Australia, it was founded to offer hope, guidance, and opportunities for youth facing challenges in London and beyond. Our mission centres on fostering resilience, self-worth, and long-term personal development through our motto of “Encourage. Empower. Enable.”
Starting in February 2020 we very quickly found ourselves in lockdown, so we pivoted and started providing food support to the community, feeding hundreds of families each week at its peak. In April 2022, we began our Exodus Youth Hub at Croyland Youth Centre and in 2024 we added additional sessions running from NYCC, both in Edmonton. We recently celebrated our 5th anniversary, proud of the number of young people and families we have supported and the plans that we have to come.
What is your role within the organisation?
I am the CEO and Director. I am responsible for the daily running of Exodus including –
- Program Delivery: Running workshops, mentoring sessions, and outreach events.
- Safeguarding & Support: Ensuring youth are safe and supported emotionally and practically.
- Administration: Managing schedules, records, funding applications, and reporting.
- Staff & Volunteer Coordination: Training, meetings, and task management.
- Community Engagement: Partnering with local services, schools, and families.
- Fundraising & Promotion: Organising events, managing social media, and engaging donors.
What is your favourite thing about working with Exodus?
I love spending time with young people and finding out what makes them them. I love being the one they want to share their success with and being the one they feel safe confiding in. I love seeing young people grow in confidence and seeing that in real time, whether that’s speaking to someone new at the youth hub or singing on stage for the very first time, or becoming a volunteer or peer mentor.
What has been your most memorable experience at Exodus?
My most memorable experience at Exodus was taking some youth to represent Exodus and meet His Majesty King Charles II. They had the opportunity to speak to him and tell him what Exodus has done for them. Its something they (and I!) will remember forever.
What does a typical day look like for you at Exodus?
No two days are the same and its certainly not the 9-5 I was used to! It’s a balance of planning, direct youth work, and organisational tasks to keep things running smoothly. Some days will be 100% admin, others are 12 hour days where we are working with young people and families. One day we could be running a community food and support hub and the next day we could be running creative arts workshops in the same space.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced running a youth charity?
The biggest challenge is securing consistent funding. Applying for grants is time-consuming, and planning 6–12 months ahead is essential to ensure program stability and staff security. Despite having impactful ideas and clear community need, limited finances restrict our growth and reach.
What are your plans for the future within Exodus?
We have so many ideas, many of which come directly from consultation with youth and the community – we will be running additional youth sessions, we are about to launch the Exodus Gospel Choir. We will soon be offering more 1:1 coaching and tuition – things that are unaffordable for many in our community. Our dream is to have Exodus Hubs across Enfield, London and the SouthEast so that every young person can benefit from the life-saving and empowering opportunities we offer.
If you could be an animal what would you be and why?
I would be an elephant – strong, wise, and deeply caring. Elephants are natural protectors, fiercely loyal to their herd, and known for their empathy. That resonates with the work we do in youth development: nurturing, guiding, and standing strong for those who need support.