Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am fundraising to continue a much needed online chat service for young people as the current funding runs out in December and it's become a lifeline for many young people in the area. 

Only £25.00 covers a weekly session to run the more money raised, the longer it can continue. 

Ourside is a charity that I am passionate about and so proud to have been involved with since it's it first started in 2004. 

Back when we were a bunch of bored and cold young people hanging around the streets with no where to go and no homes we wanted to go back to. 

Today (17 years later!) Ourside Youth is a charity dedicated to helping support young people in the community. We provide free support and engaging activities in a youth led environment. We understand how important it is for teenagers and young adults to have a place to go where they can find support and talk to someone empathises with them.

The national lockdown during COVID-19 meant that we were forced to cease all face-to-face youth provision. However, it became apparent very quickly speaking to young people during online support sessions that they were experiencing high levels of anxiety, stress and isolation.

So Tuesday night drop in was born. A weekly online chat service run on Facebook and Instagram by trained youth workers to be there for young people when the centre isn't open. Youth workers have over 15 meaningful conversations with young people helping them with anything they want to offload about, share and even celebrate. It means that they feel supported, safe and front in mind - where they might not otherwise. 

Why it matters

70% of the young people we support come from low income or social housing. Homes where their families don't have the capacity or the ability to support them in the way that they might need. It is such a pivotal time in their 

About Ourside

Our youth centre, the only one in the area, provides a safe and welcoming space for anyone between the ages 11-19, and
for people with disabilities aged up to 25.

Here, we offer accessible support alongside targeted youth work.
Through our outreach work we visit local schools and provide pop up youth clubs and services, including substance awareness sessions and sexual health clinics.
Across all our social channels, we provide a safe and inclusive space for young people to get involved and stay connected to a reliable support system.

Our Ethos

Ourside strives to empower young people, to develop their self-confidence and grow as individuals. Our ethos is genuine and strong. We work with the young people in our community to supporting them to believe in their own capabilities and grow their confidence. We aim to provide every young person with the capacity to be self-aware and independent. We encourage them to make their own decisions and to develop a future they wish for while creating a community through shared experiences and values.