The Y (Leicester YMCA)
Y Events Lab: Skills for young people
Using our unique position as an arts venue and homeless charity, The Y helps vulnerable young people gain skills, confidence and prepare for work. Y Events Lab offers technical and events training, with opportunities for creative collaboration and work experience in The Y Theatre.
It ran from 12:00 PM, 30 November 2021 to 12:00 PM, 7 December 2021
Registered Charity in England and Wales (213513)
Match funded Campaign target
£15,000
Amount raised
£16,646
Donations
82
Championed by Monday Charitable Trust
Location
United Kingdom
Campaign overview
Aims
Where's the money going?
Impact & reporting
Situation
The Y provides supported accommodation to 102 young people aged 16- 25 who have experienced homelessness, family breakdowns or trauma. The majority of residents face barriers to formal learning and struggle to get their first step into work, particularly as unemployment for this age group has risen. The coronavirus restrictions have exacerbated the disadvantages of our young people, who are arriving in crisis with greater mental health and other support needs than we’ve ever seen.
Solution
Y Events Lab is designed to support disengaged young people to develop their creativity, technical abilities and cultural leadership skills in a safe and non-judgemental environment at The Y Theatre. It dovetails with Y Skills Matter providing a nurturing approach and a breadth of sessions to boost confidence, skills and work readiness. Key to success is enabling young people to guide the pace and depth of their learning, offering real work opportunities when they are ready.
I am familiar with the fantastic work which Leicester YMCA does to support homeless young people and to provide them with education and training opportunities. The organisation has a strong track record in delivering projects of this nature.
— Joanna Jones: Head of Arts, Museums, Festivals and Events
Leicester has some of the highest levels of deprivation and youth unemployment in the country. The Y aims to not only provide a safe place for some of the most marginalised young people to live, but also bridge the gap to help them move forward with their skills, confidence and life chances.
— Joanna Fleetwood-Smith, Business Development Director at The Y
When my anxiety kicks in, if I know Bex the theatre technician is here, I’ll ask if she needs a spare pair of hands. I’ve been helping her paint the stage and rewire the plugs! There’s opportunities for young people if they want to get involved and I’ve always wanted to work in the theatre.
— Resident