YWAF
- Youth With A FutureYWAF
- Youth With A Future
Hope you like our new logo.
You might remember that at the AGM last year we asked for your opinions on proposed designs and this one was the most popular. Thank you to all those who took part. Thanks also to Michael May (son of our treasurer) for the time he spent designing it.
Change of Registered Office.
At the end of 2008 the Parish Office of St Peter and St Paul relocated to Peter Street Rooms, taking with it the YWAF registered office. We can now be contacted via the new parish office our website. Thanks to Keith for all he does to keep it up to date.I do hope you can join us at our AGM on March 16th to hear more about our plans for this year. You will be able to hear our speaker inform us about a trip to Africa which we are supporting this summer where we hope two young people from Spencer House will have an amazing experience.
Fund Raising 2008
Yet another eventful and successful year of fundraising for YWAF. In 2008 we managed our usual tombola at Collett Park – with the addition of a ‘Get Your Own Back On A Teenager’ Custard Bath. This gave the opportunity to pour custard over the heads of willing teenagers. The day was a great success, with the stall being run mostly by young people. We managed to raise around £267 and had a good laugh in the process – photos can be seen on our website.
In 2008 we were again invited to put together a team for The Glastonbury Festival. We worked with the residents and staff of Grace Harris House, and a random selection of volunteers who had helped in 2007. Although we had a few difficulties, including a team member having his money stolen whilst he slept, all rose to the challenge and had a great weekend raising a handsome £3,760. We are waiting to hear if we will be able to participate again in 2009 - so please, lots of prayers.
Supporting
Homeless young people
Since 2005 YWAF has given £100 in Argos Vouchers to all young people moving into Grace Harris House. This was extended to Mendip YMCA last year. The vouchers are used by the new residents to buy soft furnishings and small electrical items to personalise their rooms. The items are theirs to keep when they move on to more permanent housing.
Gary Kingman, Support Manager at Grace Harris House writes:
‘I can confirm that since the introduction of the YWAF voucher system for GHH it has helped transform the scheme. The residents take ownership of their home (even though it is only temporary) and fully engage with the support team. This has led to residents taking part in the Tall Ships Voyage, college courses, gardening workshops, cookery sessions and fund-raising events at Glastonbury festival. Words don't do justice to the benefit it provides to the individual residents and for the scheme as a whole. Basically GHH wouldn't be the scheme it is without this funding and for some of the residents it is the first time they have actually had possessions of their own, which they have chosen’.
Mark Hamlin, Support Worker (Grace Harris House) writes
‘Often individuals have nothing that they can call their own when they arrive here. The vouchers represent more than the ability to buy "things". They promote a sense of belonging (living in a homely environment) and help develop self respect. This is often the first time some of our new residents have had the chance to take pride in anything. These feelings and emotions can then be developed to encompass other areas of their lives.’
Here’s a little of what one student wrote at the end her time in Romania. ‘The trip itself was incredible, I formed great bonds with some of the Children, and although they spoke very little English there was no difficulty in communication. It was so exciting to see the progress some of them made in such a short period of time. For example in
live with regards to money, banking and shopping and to seek God’s heart concerning justice for the poor."
the second week a young girl came along and at first she was too frightened to go near anyone and wouldn’t let anyone touch her. By the end of the week she came up and gave me a massive hug and started jumping up and down in excitement while holding my hand.’
- Another team went to Ndola,
Zambia, to work in partnership with the Jubilee Centre, a Christian organisation
that seeks to empower churches, communities and their leaders to grow
spiritually, flourish physically and have a voice in the world. The team took
part in the various projects the Jubilee centre is involved with. This included
taking assemblies at local schools, (where we were asked to talk specifically
about HIV/AIDS awareness), and running youth clubs which involved giving short
presentations, and playing sports with the children. As part of these
presentations the team were also asked to give testimonies about our Christian
faith, and teach the children about God.
‘I feel I have learnt a great deal from my experiences this summer in Zambia, and I felt we gained a lot as a team as well as helping the Jubilee Centre in the work they are doing. It is one thing hearing about poverty, but it has only been made real to me now I have seen it for myself, and met and spoken to people who have a daily struggle to live and survive. I know that having returned to England my attitudes towards many things have changed and I am starting to take fewer things for granted. I am also seeking to change the way I live with regards to money, banking and shopping and to seek God’s heart concerning justice for the poor."
An annual accounts' statement will be circulated at the forthcoming AGM. The key numbers for the year ended 31 December 2008 can be summarised as follows:
Income £7,649
Expenditure £8,059
Net Deficit £ 410
The year's deficit of £410 has been deducted from cash reserves.
Fortunately, because cash reserves were held on deposit accruing interest, there was no exposure to the declining and volatile equity markets. However, with the sudden decline in interest rates over these past few months, YWAF will see a significant reduction in its interest income during 2009. 2008 interest rates averaged 5.3%, while current CCLA deposit rates are just 2.0% (as at 11 February 2009).
Throughout 2008 £138 was raised through the Every Penny Counts collection. It proved so popular that we have been asked to re-launch it. All it involves is that you collect all your 1p & 2p pieces and then pass them on to us. Collection boxes and buckets are available or simply put them in a bag, box, empty jar or any other receptacle. Be creative.