Teaming up to open a summer house for young people in Essex

29th April 2022

Together we can make a difference. That’s why Charlie Watkins Foundation (CWF) and Youth Enquiry Service (YES) have teamed up once again to better support young people in Essex with the creation of ‘Charlie’s Cabin’, a new summer house.

The CWF has been working with YES since the start of 2021 on a variety of projects to benefit young people in the area.

YES supports more than 2,000 young people in Essex, helping to address their emotional needs and providing support through community projects.

One of these projects is the GoGreen community garden – an allotment space where young people can gather and work together to grow fruit and vegetables. The GoGreen Community Garden shares produce with the local foodbank and the site also has a small kitchen so that the produce can be cooked into delicious meals to share.

David Sollis, the CEO of YES, said the GoGreen project: “Has allowed young people a safe space away from the concerns of the world and allows YES and those young people to build a long-term relationship together.”

Now, thanks to funding from CWF, YES has created a new addition to the community garden; a summer house called ‘Charlie’s Cabin’.

Charlie’s Cabin will provide a safe and quiet space for the young people at YES to be able to open up to each other and YES staff about any troubles they may be facing.

A frequent visitor to YES, Clare Osbourne said: “Going to YES and taking part in the projects has helped me and my mental health immensely. Having the space to talk to people my own age as well as having support from the staff means so much to me and I really look forward to my visits there.”

This new addition to the project follows CWF previously funding essential gardening tools to YES, including a large 6m by 3m gazebo to use in bad weather and the project leaders’ costs.

CWF has also worked with YES to help fund two school navigator roles, offering face-to-face mental health support to students.

We are pleased to administer CWF and help them to award grants to local charities and community groups in Essex.

If you’d like to help CWF fund more essential items like these for young people, please consider making a donation.

Republished from Charity Today.