YouthStart is a youth club that runs every afternoon for the girls of the Beis Soroh Schenierer Seminary in Manchester.
It is dedicated to providing enriching social activities tailored for Jewish teenage girls within a culturally sensitive environment.
Due to ethnicity, these girls will not access the facilities of the general public and therefore face challenges in accessing such opportunities. Youthstart has become a vital source of empowerment and engagement for them.
Our initiative goes beyond the ordinary, offering a diverse range of social activities that are met with enthusiastic participation and remarkable success.
From exhilarating 3-day hikes in the countryside to musical performances, swimming and biking sessions, and even the creation and publication of a magazine, we aim to inspire creativity and personal growth.
But YouthStart is more than just a collection of activities; it's a haven away from the potential dangers of the streets. It's a warm and welcoming space where girls can come together, build lasting friendships, and enjoy refreshments. In addition to the outdoor adventures and creative pursuits, we offer opportunities for skill development, including sewing, art, cookery, first aid sessions, and choir participation.
Our vision extends beyond merely providing activities; Youthstart is a place these girls can truly call home. It's a supportive community that fosters a sense of belonging, encouraging self-expression, personal development, and the building of valuable life skills. YouthStart is a safe and vibrant space where these young girls can thrive and create lasting memories.
This initiative plays a vital role in preventing and intervening early in mental health issues by fostering awareness, and resilience, and offering timely support to those potentially at risk. Our goal is to create a supportive environment for teenagers navigating through adolescence by facilitating relevant discussions within a group setting. We aspire for mental health topics to be openly addressed within the club, breaking the stigma surrounding these issues and enabling girls to seek the help they require. Given the recent increase in teenage symptoms such as anxiety, worry, and self-harm, along with recent tragic suicides in our community, we believe open discussions are crucial for the well-being of our girls. Some have expressed the need to share their thoughts instead of internalizing them, and we want to encourage and support them in fostering a healthy dialogue around mental health.
The expected impact will be members learning, sharing, and personalising effective coping strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and other challenges. The development of life skills. Increased confidence and self-esteem. Long-term improvement in health and well being and crisis prevention.
We want to ensure that girls have a safe and confidential space to express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. We want to foster an atmosphere of trust and openness.
This is what we will use the funding for:
Cookery club - Teacher £20 per hour x 2 hours a week for 20 weeks = £800
Cookery supplies £50 per week x 20 weeks = £1000
3-day hike for 80 participants twice a year. This includes accommodation, transport, and food is £2000 per hike = £4000
First aid courses £180 per course x 10 = £1800
BBQ = £300
Nutritious refreshments £60 per week x 35 weeks = £2100