Boost for young people’s support charity YPACF
Newbury companies raise funds for local care-leavers and homeless group
A CHARITY helping young people in West Berkshire has been helped by two local businesses during the week of World Mental Health Day.
Young People & Children First (YPACF) provides a home and support to care leavers and young homeless people, aged 16 to 25, in the district.
The team at J Finance Ltd (Newbury) pledged to stay up all night on Thursday as part of the Centrepoint National Stay Up for Homeless initiative, with the funds raised going to support YPACF.
They kicked off the evening with a high-energy 1980s aerobic session, led by Kate from Team Bear Fitness, and one of YPACF’s young people told his story of what it was like to be homeless via a Zoom talk.
The team was sustained with home-baked snacks, made by a YPACF resident and hand-delivered at midnight.
They pushed on until morning to ensure they hit their £1,000 fundraising target.
HW Cleaning Services then spent a cold, crisp Friday, cleaning cars at Greenham Business
Park, supported by YPACF staff and residents, to raise additional funds for the charity.
By the end of the long day the team had raised a total of £840, with more than 40 cars cleaned.
YPACF chief executive Tracy Underwood said: “The support of local businesses makes a real difference to our charity and our young people.
“They not only provide muchneeded funding, but job and volunteer opportunities as well as training for our young people.”
The charity has two homes in Thatcham for the young people in its care and it is looking to open a third.
Mrs Underwood said: “There is a significant need for housing and support for young people leaving care or facing homelessness.
“We
are
determined
to continue our work and to grow the charity to meet the need in the area.
“This money raised will go towards our plans for opening our third house in the very near future.”
YPACF gives a home and support to young people who come from a care environment or who are homeless.
Most have suffered trauma such as abuse or neglect and more than half suffer from a diagnosed mental health illness.
The charity provides a caring, family home alongside emotional and practical support.
Its support workers help these teenagers and young adults into independence.
YPACF has successfully supported many young people over the past 10 years, and has been rewarded by seeing them go to university, complete apprenticeships, go into full-time employment, start families and, most importantly, become confident and independent adults.
If you would like to donate and help support the charity’s work, go to www.youngpeopleandchildrenfirst.org.uk