Will you join us in inspiring change?
We believe in young people – and hope that you do too! We are committed to growing and delivering holistic youth work in local communities and schools to change individual lives and neighbourhoods, our city and even our country!
Here are two simple ways you can make a difference.
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If you are able to give financially, your donation will support our hands on work with young people and make a difference to people like Jack below.
- £5 per month over a year will pay for a young person who can’t afford to attend 3 full weeks of summer activities.
- £10 covers the cost of a week’s supply of toast and hot chocolate at ‘The Hut’ – open every day after school to allow young people to calm down and unwind
- £30 pays for a specialist 1 to 1 session for a young person at risk of exploitation to build resilience and develop personal wellbeing.
“Life’s been rough at times”
Jack moved to Bradford in 2010 when he left Ramsgate with his Mum and sister. They settled in Laisterdyke and built a new life but Jack found it hard to start again with friends at school. He was picked on for his accent and bullied for not having friends. As he grew through primary school he started to struggle and misbehave in school and at home which led to a lot of unhappiness and struggle.
“I found it so hard not having Dad around – everything was difficult and I made some rubbish choices which just kept making things worse”
In Year 6, Jack was referred into a group run by an emerge worker at his school, which led to him also attending one of our out of school clubs. He continued to be involved as he went to secondary school in more and more emerge activities. Jack particular remembers attending the Hut sessions after school every day in Year 7 and 8, “it was a safe and fun place, and the workers helped me get my head screwed on right and helped me think about what I was doing”.
At the end of Year 9, Jack had a serious accident on his bike. emerge visited Jack in hospital over the weeks he was there and helped him and his family cope as he came home. Jack has just started college and for the past year or so has been part of our young leaders and social action work – he is excited about how this has helped him to grow and improve himself and we have seen him flourish with responsibility and trust as he has led fun days in the community and volunteers each week at a children’s club.
“emerge has changed my life by always been there to listen and care – it’s like having another family where you are totally safe”