Collaboration with like-minded local organisations is central to our work. By sharing ideas and resources we can maximise opportunities to deliver flexible, client centred advice and support
Centre 33
‘The Young Carers project is very grateful to John Huntingdon’s Charity for its support in Sawston. The partnership has enabled us to grow and provide vital support to young carers as well as to provide a break from their caring role’ – Nancy Hogg, Centre 33 Fundraising Administrator
A JHC grant makes it possible for Centre 33 to provide vital support regularly to the Sawston Young Carers’ group. These school-age children care for family members with a range of issues including parental mental health, alcohol and drug misuse, physical disabilities, long-term health conditions, and siblings with learning and physical needs.
The absence of face-to-face support during the coronavirus pandemic put young carers under increased pressure. Centre 33 responded quickly by offering remote1:1 and group support to six young carers from Sawston including regular telephone or video calls, and phone/WhatsApp and text contact.
It also ran a ‘virtual summer’ in place of its usual respite activities so that young carers could access virtual arts groups, magic shows and ‘chat and chill sessions’. One Sawston young carer also engaged with the Cambridge University museums’ art project over the summer holidays.
Cogwheel Counselling, formerly The Cogwheel Trust
‘The global pandemic highlighted that good mental health is central to our wellbeing, and showed the value of talking therapies to people on the road to recovery from mental health concerns’ – Neil Davies, Business Support & Fundraising Manager, Cogwheel Trust
The availability of effective counselling services through the NHS is very limited. Increasingly, it involves long waiting times, especially for those on low incomes or who are financially disadvantaged where private counselling is not an option.
Founded in 1988, Cogwheel Counselling’s services continue to be accessible and available regardless of a person’s financial situation. Cogwheel, supported by a grant from JHC, offers high quality mental health counselling to residents of all ages.
Its expertise complements JHC’s own Support service, helping couples, families and individuals of all ages including children, teenagers and young adults who are facing worry, stress, burnout, depression, family or relationship problems and other mental health issues.
Shelford and Stapleford Youth Initiative (SSYI)
‘The pandemic had a significant impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing, particularly for those whose home lives weren’t ideal in any case’ – Zac Britton, Lead Youth Worker, SSYI
A survey by mental health charity Young Minds showed that 87% of young people questioned had felt lonely or isolated during lockdown, with 80% saying the Coronavirus had made their mental health worse.
SSYI provides a wide range of activities and youth clubs to local 10–18 year olds, along with specialist support for vulnerable groups, detached work, one-to-ones and mentoring. We have a newly opened and refurbished Youth Centre in Great Shelford which will soon be open every day of the week to offer local young people a safe space to hang out with their friends and more opportunities to get support from our professional youth work team.
As well as work in Sawston Village College and through detached sessions, a JHC grant has enabled SSYI to start expanding its open access and targeted support for hard-to-reach young people in Sawston. This includes a Monday Football group on Lynton Way Rec and a Thursday Night Youth Club in Sawston Free Church.
SHOUT (Sawston helping out together)
We would like to thank the SHOUT volunteers who helped to tidy up our community orchard in Mill Lane.