Our work with young people across London has highlighted the increased pressure that young people are under in our post-pandemic world. Young Londoners have limited job prospects and low financial security; they feel forgotten, and like they no longer have control in their lives. We are combatting that by strengthening young people's foundations: providing them with mentoring, wellness training, life skills and the opportunity to make positive new friendships and explore new places on recuperative respite trips.

We've seen the impact that these trips can have on young people's mental health and resiliency. In their feedback on previous trips, young people have said that they feel like they've been given the tools to help deal with their stress, that they've gained a new perspective on things. They've also said that they feel happy and refreshed, that they are calmer and more confident, and like they've made friendships that will last beyond the bounds of the trips.

£8000 will fund respite trips to the Quadrangle in Kent and to the Pinkery Centre on Exmoor. While on these two trips, the group of 15 young people will take part in wellness and mindfulness classes, learn invaluable life skills, and forge deep connections with their peers based on openness and mutual respect. The trips are part of a larger project that provides support, training and mentoring for young people, as well as targeted interventions for individual young people to help them improve relationships with their families and get into further education and work. Read our impact report on the pilot project here.