Shalom Youth project works with young people at risk in Grimsby's East Marsh Ward. This ward is the most deprived in Greater Lincolnshire and in the bottom 3% nationally. It has an IMD (Indicator of Multiple Deprivation)rank of 12,695 and the child poverty is running at 43%

Our work is long term. We may be working with a group of young people for 10 years. We work through building sustained relationships with young people - relationships that hold even when young people are anti-social and challenging.

Our point of contact with the young people of the community is our open access centre - now the only such centre in N E Lincs. Building on initial contact we develop adult- young person relationships and take things from there. We also work closely to support young people whose parents have severe drug and alcohol problems.

Below are a few from comments from kids- young people we have helped over the years

"We lived with abuse, we lived with it and never spoke of it - Just knowing that I had somewhere to go was a blessing"

"I am now at Nottingham Trent University using the skills Shal has provided"

"This was the best experience of my life going to Shalom"

"My child now goes to Shalom"

"Shalom did untold work with me and other challenging kids in the area"

"The patience shown at all times - the strength and determination to see the best in all youths is remarkable"

"I've now been working at sea for nearly twenty years a father of two - step father of two and grandfather of three and if it hadn't been for the youth club I would more than likely be in jail or worse"

" When I lost my middle brother the youth centre helped us out with comforting words of my brother"

"The youth club and the team do an amazing job in an area where everyone gets written off without a chance"

"If you were troubled you could talk to any of the staff at any time day or night - this place is the heart of the East Marsh"