Celebration as charity marks 10 years in town
Barnardo’s Scotland is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its housing service, North Lanarkshire Youth Housing Support Service (NLYHSS), in Motherwell and Wishaw.
Funded by, and operating in partnership with, North Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Youth Housing Support Service has supported over 200 young people every year across the area since 2010 helping them into accommodation and gaining valuable life skills.
Martin Mathieson, assistant director for Barnardo’s Scotland Services in Lanarkshire and West of Scotland, said: “Amongst all of the planning and re modelling services to adapt to the current Covid-19 pandemic, it could be easy to forget our achievements and to celebrate our good news and achievements.”
The team at NLYHSS provide housing support to young people aged from 16 to 26.
The support includes accessing and maintaining accommodation; managing budgets and relationships; learning new skills such as cooking and accessing training.
Martin is clear that the celebrations are as much about the success and achievements of the young people they support through their service which is run in partnership with the local authority.
He said: “We are extremely proud of the young people we have worked with over the last 10 years they have achieved great things in their life in spite of some significant personal challenges and barriers.
“And to the young people we are currently supporting, lockdown and isolation has been difficult at times but they have shown remarkable resilience as they adapt to a different sort of support.”
On behalf of the charity Martin added that he would like to thank the many people who have offered their support to the service through fundraising, donations of shopping vouchers and food.
“The support and generosity shown by the local communities has been quite ‘overwhelming’ and very much appreciated,” said Martin.