When young people have a good start in life, they can thrive. But not all young people have the same opportunities. Caudwell Youth exists to level the playing field for young people at risk.
Through mentoring and youth-led support, we empower young people aged 11 to 24 who face real challenges in their lives. They may experience mental health challenges, be leaving care, or be at risk of exploitation or offending. By matching them with consistent, volunteer-led mentors for up to 18 months, we give young people the time, trust and support they need to shape a positive future for themselves.
We currently provide our 1:1 mentoring service in five areas: Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Slough and Luton. But with a high demand for our service, we currently have waiting lists in many of these areas. Last year, 246 volunteer mentors gave nearly 14,000 hours of support, demonstrating the strength and commitment of our community.
We are hugely grateful to The Pixel Fund for their grant of £5,000, which will go towards our core mentoring service and enable more young people to receive mentoring and support.
Twice a year survey our young people to measure the outcomes of our mentoring programmes. In our most recent survey, 78% of young people said their mental health had improved, while 91% saw an improvement in their social relationships. Thanks to the generous support of the Pixel Fund, we can work together to ensure young people feel safer, supported and we can continue to empower young people to build a brighter future.