Last year, nearly 3,000 children arrived in the UK on their own, having been separated from their families. These young people have fled war and persecution and many have a range of physical, psychological and social difficulties that make it hard to navigate the c complex systems in which they find themselves.

Since Covid-19 their circumstances have worsened significantly. Overcrowded living arrangements, health conditions and destitution have put many at increased risk. Colleges and libraries where they were able to access learning opportunities have been closed and they have been forced to stay indoors without access to Wi-Fi, phone credit or basic equipment to communicate with the outside world.

Without existing support networks, their mental health has deteriorated as they have become increasingly isolated and unable to access the services they need. The lack of structure has proved disastrous for those already finding it hard to catch up with their peers.

Hope for the Young's Mentoring Project works alongside these young people by matching them with trained Volunteer Mentors who meet them once a week for 6 months to provide tailored one-to-one support according to their needs.

Mentors teach the young people English, build their confidence and levels of trust, introduce them to new services and activities to reduce their isolation and help them settle into their new communities. For those suffering from mental health problems, they provide emotional and practical support that creates stability and has helped them stay connected throughout the pandemic.

During the pandemic, they launched a Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund which provided essential supplies such as food, medication, warm clothes, and mobile data to help young people facing destitution stay safe and connected to vital services.

With a dramatic rise in referrals due the impact of Covid-19, your support will go towards keeping their life-changing programmes running so that all young refugees get the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and reach their full potential.