Youth Options has been awarded £2,000 Community Funding from Abri for their youth support programmes, based at Mansel Park in Millbrook, Southampton.
Youth Options is an organisation committed to empowering all children and young people by supporting them to improve their life opportunities for a better future. They have been delivering youth support in Millbrook on a weekly basis, with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour and creating a safer and cleaner community for Mansel Park.
The funding received from Abri, one of the largest housing providers in the south, will allow Youth Options to expand their provision of services in Mansel Park over the summer. It will allow them to continue supporting the local youth community through games and activities that build confidence and communication skills with a view to start forming positive relationships, better their wellbeing and improve self-esteem.
Madeleine Durie, Chief Executive Officer at Youth Options said: “Youth work provides vital support for young people and communities across many areas of their lives. Our youth support workers are non-judgmental, meeting young people with an unconditional, positive outlook, and are passionate about providing great opportunities to help young people realise their potential. In an area where 98% of young people reported feeling safer knowing that Youth Options are nearby, we are really pleased that with this funding, we can increase our delivery at Mansel Park. We will be running eight extra three-hour sessions, reaching a minimum of forty children and young people.”
“The evidence shows that, where there are youth support workers engaging in a positive way with young people and offering activities, the levels of anti-social behaviours are significantly reduced. For each child or young person involved, that means that they have a trusted adult to talk to and where early intervention can help build self-esteem and resilience and make informed decisions about their future.”
The Community Fund is part of Abri’s commitment to empowering lives and creating thriving communities, making them better places to live. Abri has awarded over £90,000 from its Community Fund to support local organisations and projects between April 2022-March 2023.
Applications are decided on by Abri’s customer panel – Thriving Communities – made up of customers and those living in its communities. Carrie Woods, an Abri customer and Thriving Communities Chair, said: “Having Youth Options present in the Mansel Park area has been great for the whole community. It’s tackling the need for youths to have a meaningful alternative, which will help reduce anti-social behaviour and give them more choices and empowerment. We are particularly pleased that it provides a non-judgmental support network that some young people may not have at home and can help them understand there are wider support systems out there if they need them.”
Other successful applications for Abri’s Community Fund include:
- £357 to Christians Against Poverty for their Life Skills Courses
- £730 for St Michaels & All Angels Church for their Community Coffee Mornings
Abri’s Community Fund opens for applications four times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities. The next application window is 1-31 July 2023.
Projects with a cost-of-living focus will be prioritised. Application forms, and window dates are available on Abri’s website at https://www.abri.co.uk/services/enterprise-investment/community-funding.