Local student, Civic Honour winner and Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Councillor Rohan Mehta is putting others first with his charity In The Bag.
What services does In The Bag offer?
In the Bag is focused on supporting people in need in my community.
We donated cost-free basic essential hygiene kits and job-seeking support to those facing hardship and homelessness. The packs are mostly made from unused airline wash bags.
When and why did you start In The Bag?
I started in early 2024. I want to help homeless job seekers find the confidence to apply for jobs, breaking the cycle of homelessness and joblessness, and to give hope to the most vulnerable members of our community.
I wanted to create something practical that could genuinely help people, not just raise awareness. My resources are helping one individual at a time and I'm hoping that with the community's support, I can scale this initiative up.
How do you balance In The Bag alongside school study?
I assemble the kits after school and on the weekends. They're funded through a combination of my own financial contributions and donations from local businesses.
If you'd like to help support In The Bag with donations, sponsorship or unopened products for the bags, please email: inthebaguk@gmail.com
What are some of the successes you've had with In The Bag?
Since starting I've donated more than 130 bags to people in need.
The charity has also been reported on by the BBC and earlier this year I was nominated for a Civic Honour for my work. I was incredibly honoured to be recognised for the work I've poured so much time and heart into.
Tell us about your work as a Youth Councillor
As a part of the Youth Council, I have been involved in interesting discussions concerning issues relevant to us.
The Youth Council has recently worked with H&F Council's public health team to build a webpage aimed at helping teens quit vaping.
See their new vaping information webpage here.
If you're interested in becoming a Youth Councillor, join our next recruitment event on Tuesday 14 October.
When you're not working on In The Bag or studying, how do you like to spend your time?
I love studying in the borough because there are so many great small cafes and restaurants that are so welcoming to students. I also love being able to walk by the river.
Ravenscourt Park is where I love to hang out with my friends and enjoy the summer weather but if we're looking to hang out indoors, I love DNA VR in Hammersmith. I've had a few birthday parties there and my friends and I always have a great time.
And while The Apollo's not exactly a hidden gem, it's one of my favourite venues. So many famous artists have gotten their start there. I love attending concerts in a smaller environment.
