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Back to NewsThe Youth Enquiry Service (YES) carries out vital work to support vulnerable young people across Colchester and Tendring. The Charlie Watkins Foundation is proud to support YES by funding some of their magnificent work.
Here is an update on their three projects supported by CWF funding over the last year…
GoGreen
YES is successfully supporting more than 20 young people with its Go Green project through three weekly gardening sessions.
Most of YES’ new referrals have come internally through their various projects such as housing, counselling and mentoring. They have also experienced a rise in external referrals through the Job Centre Plus, STAR mental health services and directly from community.
Thanks to their vital support , young people have moved on from GoGreen into employment, further work in the community, into higher education (open university) and becoming ambassadors for GoGreen.
Throughout the year, YES has supported young people through critical stages of their lives such as their GCSEs and wider education. Additionally, they have helped young people transition through difficult living circumstances and mental health challenges.
And it’s been a busy year in the garden!
The group have also been busy in their local community. Working alongside Culver Square, a group of young people helped grow and create town centre flower displays – which achieved a Green Apple Environmental Award! Also, they hosted a stand in Culver Square as part of their Environment and Wildlife event.
As part of Colchester BID entry in the Anglia in Bloom competition, YES entered their GoGreen garden. Judges were delighted to speak to the young people and see their efforts! Overall, Colchester BID was awarded the Silver Gilt for the competition.
The team also submitted a magnificently planted wheelbarrow, tyre watering can and planter into the Colchester Garden Festival.
The GoGreen project is incredibly beneficial to the young people it supports. Click here for an example of the difference GoGreen makes to young people’s lives.
School Navigators
The school navigator project has been a huge success this year, working with up to 10 schools in the north Essex area. On average, YES’ navigators see six-to-eight young people per session within schools, as this is an early intervention approach to supporting young people.
The navigators engage young people around topics such as bullying, bereavement, self-harm, isolation, and suicidal thoughts.
YES works with some of the most vulnerable young people, and their navigators are integral to their health and wellbeing. Over the last 12 months, the navigators have been able to safeguard young people at risk of suicide. Working with the school, YES ensures the young person is supported. Thanks to their work with schools and partners, they have managed to reduce the teenage suicide rate to zero for the last eight months.
During the summer of 2022, YES school navigators worked with eight targeted vulnerable young girls through a series of summer day camps. Supported by YES mentors, the mentoring team and volunteers, the girls were able to engage with navigators and take part in various opportunities. These included horse riding, beach walking, art and crafts and yoga on the beach. The day camps were a huge success and allowed YES to offer unique opportunities which are financially restrictive to these young people, allowing them to look forward to a weekly event and build confidence, resilience, mindfulness, and hope.
Charlie’s Cabin
In 2022, in partnership with the Charlie Watkins Foundation, YES opened the ‘Charlie Watkins Cabin’. The cabin provides a fresh new space in which young people can meet, be counselled, read and relax.
The cabin is now in use daily and is used by staff, the YES board, patrons, and other agency partners. It has developed into a real asset for young mothers to play with their children and has allowed YES to talk about the story of Charlie.
During 2022 CEO Dr David Sollis hosted the Colchester MP Will Quince for conversations about the charity, young people’s mental health and the continued impact of the charity.
The Charlie Watkins Foundation would like to thank YES for their work to provide vital support for vulnerable young people.
Please help us continue to support organisations like YES, who make a huge difference to young people, by donating here.
