The AVOW Young Influencers, part of the Welsh Government’s Youth-Led Grand Scheme (YLGS), which is administered through the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, received an application from Wrexham’s Info Shop for a small grant (£75). Which would 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 they had applied for.
Emergency Bags
In December, the Young Influencers gave a grant of £500 to the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Service, with a further £500 for emergency bags to follow.
The YLGS is a grant scheme whereby young people between 14 and 25 (the Young Influencers) make real decisions about how to spend grant money.
Over the following months, they discussed what should go into the emergency bags with the Young Influencers involved in the talks. On 21st July, Young Influencer representative Isabelle Prince and AVOW staff visited the Info Shop on Lambpit Street to deliver the bits and pieces that will become part of the emergency bags.
The contents include practical items like deodorant and washing essentials, instant food, hot chocolate, hats, blankets and Greggs vouchers. Phone battery packs are also a part of the list so the recipients can access the internet 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.
Making It Through a Crisis
“Thank you to the Young Influencers. The impact this will have on the young people 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 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.”
The Young Influencers panel have also added some quick dry food and a bag to help carry it all in. These kits will ensure that young people who are homeless or in danger of being so have a few essentials to make it through that moment of crisis.
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