HSYAReview2024 - Flipbook - Page 9
The Matrix Trust
The Trust has provided a lifeline for
vulnerable young people across Guildford
Borough for 23 years, helping to catalyse
change for them by nurturing, inspiring,
connecting and empowering them.
Growing as local need has increased,
we’ve worked closely with young people
as this has happened, listening to them in
order to discern their needs and launching
or adapting projects to provide the
support requested.
Our Monthly Hubs take place in Bellfields
and Bushy Hill and provide an essential
safe space for young people, where they
can meet with their peers, have fun and
find robust mental health support.
By engaging young people in fun,
meaningful activity they are encouraged
away from anti-social behaviour which
often presents a risk to the young person
as well as to others. Furthermore, the early
intervention wellbeing support offered
helps prevent young people's mental
health from further decline.
Research into the number of Surrey
children living in low-income families is
22,377 for 2020/21. This figure has risen
11% since 2019/20. Such young people
are uniquely vulnerable, often lacking basic
needs and not having access to
constructive distractions. This puts such
young people at high risk of harm or
causing harm to others, with anti-social
behaviour being adopted as a cure for
boredom. Our service is free at point of use
and therefore provides these young people
with access to a constructive means of
spending their time outside of education.
This protects them and the wider
community, as well as helping to relinquish
the pressure on families struggling with the
increased cost of living.
South West Surrey
Domestic Abuse Service
We provide free, confidential, independent,
and impartial advice to anyone aged 16 or
above affected by domestic abuse living in
the boroughs of Waverley and Guildford.
We offer skilled practical help, ongoing
emotional support, and information and
advice on issues such as safety planning,
housing rights, relationships and
separation, and civil and criminal court
proceedings. We have a specialist
Children’s team that supports children and
young people who have been exposed to
domestic abuse.
The impact of domestic abuse on young
people is considerable and in Covid-19
times domestic abuse levels are rising.
Sadly, research has revealed an overlap
between young people affected by
domestic abuse and future criminality.
There are a number of protective factors
which can build resilience in children and
there are support programmes and
interventions that are known to help
children to cope and recover from
experiencing domestic abuse. Our YOUTH
AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME is one
such project that aims to provide
protection for young people currently
facing domestic abuse.
Our YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME
has a number of components:
1. A quarterly 'Hear the child's voice'
forum/meeting where we hear from young
people about their concerns about how
domestic abuse has affected their life and
what is lacking in preventative work to
support young people.
2. 'Ambassador in the community' Where possible and with the support and
guidance of our team, our Ambassadors
will be encouraged to help other young
people to understand the dangers of
abusive relationships and provide
signposts for practical help to keep
themselves and their friends safe.
Relate Mid and East Surrey
A self-funded and independent charity
(charity number 1108239) whilst also
being part of the Relate Federation. Their
focus is on supporting local families,
couples and individuals including young
people through providing a range of
counselling services. Their aim is to
change lives in the local area by helping
people make those personal changes
which enable them to build better
relationships.
They provide free and subsidised 50
minute 1:1 counselling to disadvantaged
young people who find themselves in
difficulty and crisis but may have difficulty
accessing support due to financial
reasons. They work across Surrey and
the areas where most of their clients live
are Reigate & Banstead, Mole Valley,
Tandridge, and Epsom & Ewell. They
cover all the areas within these boroughs
that have been identified as areas of
need. Within these areas they support
disadvantaged young people aged 11 to
18 who can benefit from counselling but
do not seek access to such services due
to their families not being able to afford it.
They target GP practices and youth
groups in the Identified areas to ensure
we reach those most in need.
They have been counselling young
people since 1994 and due to demand
this service now accounts for over a third
or our service hours. They have 7 young
people’s counsellors and work in 6
schools in the local area. The young
peoples’ counsellors are highly
experienced and qualified to work with
young people. Young people are also
seen at centres in Epsom and Reigate.
There is currently a huge demand for
support for young people as CAHMS and
school waiting lists are very long Relate is
able to offer support to those who seek it
at their centres.
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