Comedy Central UK supports Youth at Risk, an inspirational charity that works with young people in the UK to help them reach there full potential. Read on for more details of their brilliant work.
What do Youth at Risk do?
Youth at Risk runs transformational personal and social development programmes for some of our most alienated and disaffected young people.We enable young people to develop a different view of themselves – and we help them to take control of and responsibility for their lives.
We do this by building their self-esteem and self-confidence, helping them see how they can achieve their full potential. We work with communities all over the UK and provide young people with life coaches by our growing team of empathetic and inspirational volunteers.
Who does Youth at Risk work with?
The young people on our community programmes are some of the most marginalised in the country. They have a chaotic way of life and have been victims of abuse, violence, neglect and/or extreme poverty. Many lack any form of appropriate parenting and the majority are failing or have already failed at school.These young people are angry and aggressive and find it difficult to form worthwhile relationships. Their upbringing has often led them to criminal and anti-social behaviour, becoming a member of a gang, violent and abusive behaviour, or drug and alcohol problems.
We have worked in underperforming schools and deprived estates. We have worked in divided communities (like Belfast and Kosovo) and Young Offender Institutions. We have worked with business leaders and entrepreneurs to transform the lives of the long-term unemployed, with the Birmingham Royal Ballet to transform the lives of young people in the inner cities and with Saracens Rugby Football Club to transform the lives of young people through sport.
Where can I see Youth at Risk’s work?
Our reputation is such that in the last year we provided coaching for young people on the Channel 4’s ‘Orchestra United’ and the BBC’s ‘Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment’.Highlights from ‘Ballet Changed My Life’, filmed and broadcast by Channel 4, can be seen here.
Read on to see exactly how we work and help young people to turn their own lives around.
‘Holly's’ Story
My mum chucked me out when I was 16 ... I was always being sent to different schools ... my dad wasn’t around so I was always on my own apart from my big brother... but then in November my brother committed suicide and that’s when my life got worse... I started taking drugs and drinking getting into fights getting arrested ...I thought we would go [on the course] for ... a laugh... I tried to muck about and ... the bad side would come out in me the swearing at people being rude ... I threw shampoo on the volunteer ...
... the trainers started to help us have an understanding of why we felt the way we felt and that the way we was feeling was not our faults, it all started to make sense and ... even in the 4 days I felt like a whole weight had been lifted of my shoulders.
I now have an (adult volunteer) coach who keeps in contact 3 times a week ... just to make sure I'm ... keeping on track ... And once a month we meet up for a follow up session with the other young people from our group ... just to keep us on form.
I have built my relationship back up with my mum, she ... is so proud ... I'm more confident around new people ... I talk to people with a lot more respect and treat people how I want to be treated.
I'm now [getting] an apprenticeship on an accountancy course... the trainer ... helped me with that by people that work in financial departments to come have chats to help me.
All I can say is anyone that gets an opportunity to go on this programme grab it with both hands.
How can I get involved with Youth at Risk?
Volunteer here: www.youthatrisk.orgDonations:
You can donate to Youth at Risk from your mobile phone sending the text code RISK11 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070. It is possible to donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, and £10. E.g. to donate £2 it would be 'RISK11 £2'.