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International Youth Day

12th August, 2021
smellings
Community

Today is International Youth Day, and Connexus is proud to commemorate this day to bring youth issues to the international community’s attention and celebrate the potential of youth as active partners in the global society.

International Youth Day is all about encouraging youths worldwide to organise activities and raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country.

This year’s International Youth Day is about transforming food systems to highlight that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.

 

With the world’s population expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, it has become recognized by numerous stakeholders that simply producing a larger volume of healthier food more sustainably will not ensure human and planetary wellbeing. Other crucial challenges must also be addressed, such as the interlinkages embodied by the 2030 Agenda including poverty reduction; social inclusion; health care; biodiversity conservation; and climate change mitigation.
United Nations

More details are available on the United Nations web page

Connexus is committed to supporting communities and young people to fulfill their potential is one aspect of our work. We currently have two young people’s support projects that offer housing, support, and opportunities for training and gaining life skills, alongside family mediation work we carry out in the community.

Ludlow Foyer

Our Ludlow Foyer opened its doors in 2000 and, along the way, has helped hundreds of young people. Residents are given opportunities to gain new skills by taking formal education courses or getting involved in centre-led projects. The training is individually tailored to each resident to become more independent so that eventually, they can take on a tenancy of their own.

Hereford Younger Persons Service

Earlier this year, we opened a new housing service in Hereford, which offers young people aged 16-25, tailored support to help them gain essential life skills to live independently. Operated by Connexus, the project offers high-quality accommodation with 24/7 support for up to 16 residents who have been specifically referred into the service by Herefordshire Council.

The scheme is jointly funded by Connexus, Herefordshire Council, and Homes England. It aims to provide young people with the opportunity to learn the skills they need to thrive in their local community and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The service also works with families across the county to provide mediation support to prevent youth homelessness.

Connexus worked in partnership with Herefordshire Council and the developers, Harpers, to follow COVID-19 guidelines and complete the scheme on time and within budget and has seen the creation of 13 local jobs.

 

“This has been a real team effort from everyone involved helping make this project a reality. We all worked through challenging times, but it has been worth it! I’m so proud that Herefordshire’s young people have a safe space where they can live and learn, with support to access education, training, and gain life skills.”

Harriet Edwards - Young Persons Service Manager

 

Celebrating success

Over the last month, the Ludlow Foyer have had two residents move on; one to their own independent accommodation, and one has gone off to university - all made possible by the help and support of the fantastic team.

While the team at the Ludlow Foyer is sad to see the residents leave, it’s positive to know that they have been supported and given the opportunities to gain essential life skills and become independent

Outreach services & Mediation Services

We support young people to identify how they can manage their own needs, mitigate risks and take up opportunities. 

We work with families and the young people themselves to create a more positive family life, where possible, and a more supportive family environment. Sometimes this isn’t possible, and the service has a particular focus on supporting them to obtain or maintain accommodation, or where homelessness is inevitable. 

We support them in securing and maintaining suitable alternative accommodation. 

This service is currently offered within Herefordshire and to individuals referred to us, aged 16-25.

Find out more here