Youth charity Fairbridge needs private sector support, says Ben Pinnington director of Merseyside based PR firm Artemis Media & Public Affairs.
The menacing spectre of public cuts is now casting a long shadow over the business community. Few businesses will not be affected directly or indirectly. But if it bad for business what on earth is it like for local charities on Merseyside - especially those without a high profile busily going about their work under the radar?
One such charity which desperately needs more private sector and individual support is the Slater Street based youth charity Fairbridge. I have come to know about their life transforming work with some of the most disadvantaged young people on Merseyside through our client Cammell Laird. Cammell Laird’s apprentices recently raised an astonishing £30,000 to help Fairbridge in its Zero to Hero challenge by selling advertising space on a shipyard calendar. And as a result of helping promote that remarkable achievement Artemis is now helping Fairbridge with pro bono PR support.
So what does Fairbridge do and why does it need your support?
The spirit of Fairbridge was summed up in a story Jayne Wilson, an experienced mentor at the charity, told me. A teenage lad who has recently being attending Fairbridge dropped in unannounced and pretty upset one Saturday afternoon. It turned out to be his birthday. However, his parents had made his day a misery, so to get away he went to the only place he knew he’d be safe and welcome – Fairbridge.
Fairbridge works with around 200 young people aged 13 -25 from across Merseyside every year. These are kids from all backgrounds whose life is on a knife edge. They have been referred to Fairbridge by schools unable to cope with them or by the care or justice systems or by other charities. Fairbridge offers a chance for these young people to get their life on track and get into employment or education. It is the first step forward away from abusive parents or a life with little, if any, family support network. These are Merseyside’s lost generation. And without Fairbridge for many of these kids the grim reality is to plunge backwards into drug and alcohol addiction, crime, homelessness and so on.
However, Fairbridge offers experience and expertise of knowing how to communicate and connect with these kids through activities and mentoring. It understands them and the issues they face. And with its guiding hand its work has a huge impact. has a ‘positive outcome’ with 80pc of the young people it works with.
Why does Fairbridge need your support? Despite being one of the most important youth charities in the region it nearly closed its doors two years ago. Lottery funding was reorganised and overnight Fairbridge lost a huge chunk of its income. It now needs to raise £500,000 a year to make ends meet. It also needs additional funding to move into new premises so it can work with a greater number of young people. However, because it has been focused on the job for so long its fundraising effort is in real need of support. The funding operation is now being knocked into shape by a board led by Sir Michael Bibby of Bibby Line. But the challenge is formidable. Today Fairbridge literally has only a handful of businesses which have adopted it as their official charity offering pro bono work and cash donations. Moreover, it has very few individuals registered for monthly donations of £10 or more. So your help really can make a difference.
To find out more about supporting Fairbridge contact: jayne.wilson@fairbridge.org.uk tel: 0151 709 5881. Fairbridge is holding a number of fundraising events through-out the year and it is presently looking for teams to enter its annual golf day at Royal Liverpool on Wednesday June 9 see: www.fairbridge.org.uk/merseyside
