Popcorn is a growing community designed by and for young adults aged 16-30. When you're a child, a teenager, or later in life when your hair turns silver, people want to make sure you're okay. But what about the time in the middle?

Popcorn originated from a community project focused on social isolation. Twelve months of research within the Witham community, backed up by national statistics, showed us that young adults are expected to just get on with their lives, but nobody is interested in asking what kind of support they need. While pressures and expectations are constantly rising, the mental health of young adults is drastically decreasing.

-16-24 year olds are the age group most likely to feel lonely often or all the time (Office of National Statistics)

-Less than 1 in 3 young people with a mental health condition get access to NHS care and treatment (Young Minds)

We are not a crisis management support organisation, but working with young adults over the past year at Popcorn we have seen the power of peer-to-peer support. There is a sense of friendship among Popcorners that not only prevents young people from reaching a crisis point but also helps them recover from one.

" You don't have to be "anything" to join Popcorn. You just need to exist." Hayden 21yo

" Mental health is important but we are not always looking for advice. We just want to talk about it. " Popcorner

What started as a community project has now become an independent non-profit organisation. Popcorn is still a baby and requires a lot of work and attention! However, with three high-impact 8-week programmes delivered last year and a series of ten Popcorn meetups, I can see how much this community has grown and how much more we can achieve together.

As we celebrate our first birthday as an independent organisation, we invite you to help us grow a much-needed space for awesome people who want to belong and jumpstart their lives after the pandemic, difficult experiences in education, and many other life events that have put a break on their life.

We appreciate that in the current climate we are all counting every penny, but with many small donations, we can achieve something great! Your support will cover four Popcorn meetups in Witham this summer, allowing up to 50 people to gain life skills, confidence, a sense of belonging, and a boost to their mental health.

This is us!

Popcorn Community Limited

Companies House number 14834862

https://www.popcorncommunity.co.uk/

Pizza making workshop with Giovanni di Sarno Jan 2024

Tree planting day with Witham Tree Planting Group Feb2024

Popcorn meetup: Jenga with a twist! June 2024