A generous donation of £1000 was presented by brethren of Heversham Lodge No 8396, to the Kent Estuary Youth Project team when they recently met at a Christmas Event held in the Milnthorpe Hub, Milnthorpe. The event had been organised by the young people of the project to connect with their community which included; an afternoon tea, bingo, a Christmas quiz and a raffle. In the evening a Family Disco had been organised, with a competition for the best Christmas outfit. The KEY Project was established as a charity in 2015 to support and help young people of secondary school age in their physical, social and emotional development. The money was given as a donation by the brethren of the Lodge in recognition of the value and importance of the work being carried by the project.
The adults featured in the photograph are Project Youth Workers; Wayne Singleton, Lesley Leadbitter, and Emma Banks. Chair of the Trustee’s Peter Clarke, and Heversham Lodge members; W. Bro. Roger Whittaker and W. Bro. Bill Douthwaite, along with some of the young people of KEY.
Peter Clarke, Chair of Trustees who received the donation on behalf of the Project said; “KEY has now been working long enough for relationships between the youth workers and the young people to grow. It is really encouraging to see how much the young people are able to get from their involvement with KEY and how it is helping them cope with the challenges that face them. It feels as though KEY is also gradually building up relationships with the communities in which we work. Raising money to keep KEY going is a constant pressure. The generous donation from the Lodge is a very welcome contribution and all the more so because it comes from within the local community.” Emma Banks a youth worker for the Project informed the brethren in attendance, that KEY works inclusively with all young people from the area and all are welcome to join us. KEY youth workers work alongside the young people supporting youth led activities. Our youth café members as part of their social action element of our work, decided back in the summer that they wanted to do an afternoon tea event and a family party; subsequently as they couldn’t decide between them, they did both! The group worked on all aspects of the planning of the event, creating promo, writing letters to businesses asking for support to planning the party games and a mass bake off to make as many cakes for their day. The KEY youth workers are immensely proud of each young person that got involved to help make the day happen. Emma went on to say; “We plan to develop a further three new youth provisions in the Kent Estuary Area; Levens, Storth and a second group in Milnthorpe. We hope to gain further funding to enable us to build on our holiday provision, and deliver programmes that support the young people to; have fun within physical activity, explore emotional well being and build resilience and explore positive life choices; including future aspirations and staying safe. There is also interest in developing a community session which would include a meal; the aim is to; promote intergenerational links, sharing of skills across the generations, prevention of isolation and improving individual’s health & well-being In 2018, KEY supported 167 young people.”
For further information about the Kent Estuary Youth Project please go to their website at www.thekeyproject.org.uk
