Guest Article: AVOW (Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham)
In December, the AVOW Young Influencers (part of the Youth Led Grand Scheme by Welsh Government, administered through the WCVA) received an application from Wrexham’s Info Shop for a small grant (£75) to allow them to gift some selection boxes for young people who are homeless, or in temporary accommodation. The Young Influencers looked at the grant and realised that it was in their power to do more – and so they did.
“It simply wasn’t enough” said Fionn McCabe about the small grant applied for.
In December, the Young Influencers gave a grant of £500 pounds to the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Service, with a further £500 for emergency bags to follow.
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The Youth Led Grant Scheme is a grant scheme where by young people between the ages of 14 and 25 (the Young Influencers) make real decisions about how grant money is spent.
A huge thank you to the Young Influencers
Over the following months, discussions were had on what would best go into the emergency bags, with the Young Influencers themselves being involved in the discussions. On the 21 of July, Isabelle Prince, a representative of the Young Influencers, and AVOW staff visited Info Shop to deliver the bits and pieces that will become part of the emergency bags that the Info Shop staff can give out to those in desperate need.
These are practical things like deodorant and washing items, instant food, hot chocolate, hats, blankets and Greggs vouchers. There are battery packs to help keep their phones charged. The Young people need access to the internet in order to be able to apply for accommodation, jobseekers’ allowance, and other benefits, many of which are only accessible online. The Greggs vouchers ensure that they are at least able to have something warm to eat.
“A Huge thank you to the Young Influencers. The impact that this will have on the young people that we support is huge” said Lucy Easton, Youth Homeless Prevention Coordinator for the Youth Homeless Prevention Service. “So many people end up in temporary accommodation don’t have anything, just perhaps the clothes they are standing up in, so all of this will be a great help.”
“It’s our pleasure entirely” said Katherine Prince, Development Manager for Volunteering, Community and Finance at AVOW. “The young influencers are really appreciative of everything that you do.”
In putting together what the young people might need, the Young Influencers panel have added some quick dry food, as well as a bag to help carry it all in.
These kits will ensure that young people who are homeless, or in danger of being homeless have a few essentials to make it through that moment of crisis.
About Young Influencers
AVOW Young Influencers are a group of people between the ages of 15 and 25 years, who compose a grant panel for youth-led grants. These young people make real funding decisions about grants.
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