Thanks for support (From Witney Gazette)

Thanks for support

3:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Letters

Sir – I am writing to thank all your readers who have provided such valuable support for Base 33 and our young people in the past year.

It was a record year for us in many ways. We worked with over 1,500 young people through our detached work, going out on to the streets and meeting young people on housing estates, outside shops and on recreation grounds in Witney and Carterton is a key part of our work at Base 33.

The outcome of this has been significant, with police reporting that our work recently contributed to a 21 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour calls in the Witney area.

The year also saw a highly successful pilot scheme for Job Base, our mentoring project for unemployed young people, providing education and support to those that lack the skills and confidence needed to access employment, further education and training.

Of 76 participants, 13 have gained employment, 19 have gained apprenticeships and 24 gained places in further education: a success rate of 74 per cent.

To make Job Base a sustainable project, we are seeking financial support from local businesses. Three have signed up already and we are hoping to increase that number in the months ahead.

We are currently busy delivery drug awareness sessions to all Year Eight pupils in schools in the district.

And looking ahead, we are very excited about our new young parent project, the Kiddy Crew, helping disadvantaged young parents to cope and to become great mothers and fathers.

We are looking forward to developing our work further in 2013 for the benefit of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and the community as a whole.

If any of your readers would like to find out more about our work, they are welcome to call me on 01993 777870.

Claire Dowan, Director, Base 33 Youth Trust, Witney