Reclaiming Space and Empowering Young Minds: How Mentivity is Transforming Communities with the Support of Creative Impact Club
Co-founder Sayce Holmes-Lewis and Chief Strategy Officer Nathalie Holmes-Lewis popped into CIC to share more about Mentivity’s unique approach to supporting young people through informal education and emotional regulation, blending sport, mentorship, and guided discovery and the exciting launch of their new physical space, Mentivity House.
Sayce Holmes-Lewis, Co-Founder and Nathalie Holmes-Lewis, Chief Strategy Officer at Mentivity
Co-founded by Sayce Holmes-Lewis in 2016, Mentivity is much more than just a youth mentoring organisation—it’s a lifeline for young people in London. With its roots deeply embedded in Sayce's own experiences growing up on the Aylesbury Estate, Mentivity’s mission has always been clear: to provide young people with guidance, opportunities, and safe spaces where they can develop emotionally, socially, and academically. Over the years, what began as a passion project for Sayce has grown into a powerful force for change, impacting thousands of lives and becoming an essential resource for communities facing immense challenges.
“WITH MENTIVITY HOUSE, NEW SERVICES, AND PROGRAMMES LAUNCHING, IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE HAD A BRAND THAT REFLECTED THIS GROWTH. CIC UNDERSTOOD THAT IMMEDIATELY. THEY DIDN’T JUST PROVIDE A NEW LOGO - THEY GAVE US A FOUNDATION TO BUILD UPON AS WE EXPANDED.”
“For me, this is personal,” Sayce explains. “I grew up here, I understand the struggles that young people in these areas face because I lived it. My mentors changed my life, and that’s what Mentivity is about—paying it forward, creating a new generation of leaders, and providing young people with the tools they need to succeed in a society that often overlooks them.”
Much of Mentivity’s work is centred around building trust and offering young people a safe place to be heard. Through one-to-one mentoring, group sessions, and conversation-based learning, Mentivity tackles the issues that many young people face, including violence, lack of opportunity, and systemic failures in education.
"The challenges young people face now aren’t so different from when I was growing up," Sayce notes. "What’s changed is the scale. There’s more negativity around them, especially with social media and rising violence. We’re trying to reclaim space—not just physical spaces, but also their minds, helping them to realise their potential and offering an alternative path."
Mentivity’s unique approach focuses on informal education and emotional regulation, blending sport, mentorship, and guided discovery. As the organisation grew, so did its ambitions. Mentivity expanded its services, launching new programmes, building partnerships with corporate organisations, and establishing Mentivity House—a community hub that offers respite, education, and resources such as a tech hub sponsored by Avanade and a podcast studio supported by Spotify.
As Mentivity’s impact grew, Sayce recognised that their brand needed to evolve as well. They were no longer just a mentoring service—they were offering a wide range of programmes aimed at both young people and the wider community. This was where the Creative Impact Club (CIC) came in.
Creative Impact Club partnered with Mentivity through their Impact Awards to provide pro-bono branding expertise, helping to define and elevate Mentivity’s visual identity at a crucial time of growth. What followed was a transformative collaboration that reshaped the way Mentivity presented itself to the world.
“They found me!” Sayce recalls with a smile. “Avalyn and Justin from CIC reached out for one of their events, asking if I could talk about my journey as a founder and entrepreneur in the third sector. That led to deeper conversations about how they could support us, and before we knew it, we were working on this amazing brand overhaul.”
For Nathalie Holmes-Lewis, Mentivity’s Chief Strategy Officer, the partnership with CIC couldn’t have come at a better time. “We were transitioning from being a pure mentoring organisation to something much bigger,” she explains. “With Mentivity House, new services, and programmes launching, it was critical that we had a brand that reflected this growth. CIC understood that immediately. They didn’t just provide a new logo—they gave us a foundation to build upon as we expanded.”
CIC paired Mentivity with designer Ana Grigorivici, whose commitment to the project went beyond typical agency work. Anna immersed herself in Mentivity’s world, visiting the community, meeting the team, and understanding the nuances of the organisation’s vision.
“Ana was amazing,” says Nathalie. “She didn’t just design for us—she created with us. Her work brought Mentivity’s vibrancy and energy to life, and now we have a brand toolkit that is fluid, dynamic, and reflects who we are.”
The new brand toolkit, which includes everything from social media assets to a design template for merchandise, has already started to make an impact. Mentivity’s online presence feels more cohesive, and the visuals reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the communities they serve.
Sayce is particularly excited to see how young people respond to the new brand. "I can't wait for the kids to see this. The colours, the designs—it’s going to speak to them in a way we couldn’t before. It feels fresh, professional, and most importantly, it reflects who they are."
But beyond the aesthetic improvements, the partnership with CIC has helped Mentivity on a deeper level. Nathalie points out that CIC’s involvement was more than just about design—it was about storytelling. “CIC gave us the tools to tell our story better. Now, when we talk to schools, sponsors, or the young people themselves, we have a clear, powerful message. We can show people who we are, what we stand for, and why they should believe in us.”
For Sayce, this collaboration has opened up new possibilities for Mentivity’s future. “We’ve always been about empowerment, and now our brand empowers us to reach even more young people. CIC helped us create something that will continue to grow as we grow.”
Reflecting on the partnership, Sayce and Nathalie are quick to recommend CIC to other organisations. “The level of care and professionalism was next level,” Sayce says. “They didn’t just deliver a brand—they invested in us. That’s the difference. For anyone thinking about working with CIC, I would say don’t hesitate. They’re going to take your vision and amplify it in ways you never imagined.”
With the new branding in place and Mentivity House fully operational, Sayce and his team are ready to take on the next chapter of their journey. They continue to reclaim space - both physically and mentally - for the young people and communities they serve.
Mentivity cultivate resilient, empowered communities where every young person has the opportunity to thrive. Through their unwavering commitment to mentorship, innovation, and inclusivity, they envision a future where every individual has access to the support and resources they need to reach their full potential.
Website: www.mentivity.com