We have previously carried out research with young people about growing up in the County. The research revealed persistent challenges that traditional services have failed to tackle. With our experience of working with some of the most vulnerable, and NEET, young people, it was no surprise that there was an extremely poor rating for job opportunities but overall, many young people felt that they faced a lot of problems.

Through YG's Link and Team programmes, we regularly see first-hand, young people who are not fit for work through a toxic combination of shockingly poor physical and mental-health. The research did offer possible clues as to why this could be with most indicating that mental-health services desperately needed improving. The vast majority felt that youth clubs or places for young people needed improving and that there were not enough leisure facilities, and those that exist, are inaccessible due to unavailability, transport and cost .

In May 2016, Sport England launched their new strategy that confirmed what we already knew; low activity levels were affecting both the physical and mental-health of Gloucestershire's young people, with those in the lowest socio-economic groups, and those with a disability, being the least active. Gloucester has the lowest rates of activity levels across the County.

The results forced us to think strategically about the health and wellbeing of Gloucestershires young people and after a successful pilot, we restarted our LinkedUp mental-health counselling service and piloted further work with Cotswold Conservation Board and Row Gloucestershire to deliver outdoor activities eg bushcraft and walking, and rowing.

Thanks to some small grants, we now have some funds to provide further activities, and have just started a personal training programme in the Link. In 2020, we wish to expand this activity programme further by recruiting a part-time activity worker to coordinate activities for young people including those already receiving counselling, victims of crime, young parents or carers, NEETs, SEND pupils and those excluded, or on the cusp of exclusion, from school .

The project will aim to (1) Engage YP in outdoor physical activity, (2) work with local activity providers eg climbing, leisure centres/gyms, Stand-up Paddleboarding, rowing - to facilitate access via free or subsidised places, (3) Arrange cost-effective activity sessions eg cycling, Daily Mile/couch-to-5km, hill and nature walks, canoeing and rowing, and other outdoor activities including allotments and Bushcraft, and (4) Provide therapeutic interventions alongside physical activity .

Cost of activities remains a barrier so the worker will need to be creative and take advantage of what is on our doorstep namely the parks, hills and canal paths and surrounding areas of Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Malvern Hills, Black Mountains and Wye Valley.

In 2020, we ask supporters to undertake their own personal challenges run, walk, cycle, canoe, trek etc to support this early-intervention programme. By getting active yourself in 2020, and joining fundraising events and challenges, you will help to bring about positive social changes for young people through the intentional use of sport/physical activity and to encourage them to make changes to their lifestyles that will enable them to create healthier futures.