It is with great sadness that the Trustees must make you aware that, during the last year, financial fragility has impacted severely on WAM’s ability to operate and function on a sustainable footing and enable planning for the future. WAM is a small charity and, not dissimilar to other charities, it has become increasingly difficult to secure funding.

 We are exceptionally grateful for the impactful work of our staff, and our much-valued volunteers who always have the interests of young people at the heart of what they do. Despite the challenges, many young people have benefitted from support during this last year, and they have told us how valuable that support has been. 

 Due to our very difficult financial situation, our mentoring service will be closing. We are in discussions with 2 other charities and endeavouring to formulate a plan for the ongoing support of the young people we are currently mentoring, and their mentors. We will speak to each family separately about their individual circumstances and any transitional plans.

 Our Head of Mentoring and Pastoral Support, Ali Kirkwood, will be working part time for The Children’s Society and also setting up her own mentoring business, 'Hope Mentoring'. Our Mentoring Youth worker, Matt Voorbach is exploring a number of options but remains committed to working with young people. Our Charity Administrator, Linda Teague will be retiring.  We take this opportunity to wish them all the very best for the future.

 We are in conversation with each of our volunteer mentors so that those who want to continue mentoring can do so in another local charity.

 The Community Youth work will continue for the near future until an alternative provider can be found to deliver open access youth work in Winchcombe. 

Our Community Youth Work Manager, Bryoni Newell, has agreed to continue this work, for which the Trustees are most grateful. At the present time we work out of St Peters Centre, which over the past months has, at times, been at capacity. In order to cover the running costs and keep providing open access youth provision [our Monday & Tuesday Youth Club] in Winchcombe we are continuing to look for financial support. Therefore if you would like to contribute either financially or are interested in volunteering please contact Bryoni [Bryoni@wamyouth.org.uk]

 The Trustees of WAM are very grateful for the financial support we have received from a variety of sources over the years including individual donations, regular giving, and grant-making organisations. All monies received have been used to improve outcomes for young people.

The WAM Trustees 21/10/24

Please direct any enquiries to info@wamyouth.org.uk