Page 16 - Jigsaw January 2021

Help and Support ..........................................................................
Many young people are struggling, but Souster Youth can help
Young people are facing a host of challenges but here are Souster Youth we are helping when they need it most. We’re a local
charity - based in Thrapston - and working in schools and Northamptonshire communities for the benefit of young people.
We’re in there every week so we can tell you that schools and their teaching staff are doing brilliantly. Schools really are doing their very best to make this pandemic situation feel as normal as possible. You might not know that if you read the opinions of journalists and commentators, but we’re seeing encouraging things in schools on the ground.
But, despite all of the positives, the challenges are very real too. In a nationwide survey by YoungMinds 80% reported that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse. This was often related to increased feelings of anxiety, isolation,
a loss of coping mechanisms or a loss of motivation. 31% of those receiving support before lockdown were unable to access it even though they still needed it.
Over the coming months we’ll learn a great deal more about the impact on young people. So far, what we’re seeing is mirroring the national picture. Young people have already been sharing with our team about loneliness and isolation, greater anxiety
and physical violence at home. We feel the urgency and, throughout this term, we’ve been working closely with schools to get their students the help they need.
Each school we work with is taking a slightly different approach to the government guidance and that means we need to be flexible in our own approach. Here are 3 things we are doing in local schools:
1. School-wide lessons to promote better
mental health.
2. One-to-one pastoral support for students
both online and in person.
3. Online events to offer support for parents
in promoting psychological health at home.
On top of this we still have limited face to face youth work happening from our centre in Thrapston. Of course we are working around whatever Government restrictions are in place at any given time.
One young person told us recently: “This has been such an awful situation for me, I’m glad I didn’t have to face it alone.”
If you want to get involved, there are three ways you can help local young people!
1. Know a young person in secondary
school who needs help? Online support is available at sousteryouth.org/online- support
2. Text a donation! During these strange times we are so grateful for the local support we receive. If you want to help us reach more young people, join others in donating by text to our winter campaign: text SOUSTER to 70450 to donate £10 (Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message)
3. Help each month. You can sign up for monthly giving at sousteryouth.org/ donate
If you want to find out more about our work, just get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Jason Royce, Director
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