Wow! They're walking 1 Million steps to raise funds for vulnerable young people

That's about 5 miles a day, every day for 3 months! And its a challenge Karen Mitchell, Youth Concern's Vice Chairman and Director of Bucks College group, decided to take on. She then talked to her colleagues and managed to enthuse 8 of them to join her!

Two of the group had previously used Youth Concern's services and that's what motivated them to get involved. Assan credited his career progress to being able to use Youth Concern's free Music Studio and he'd also seen how the charity helped vulnerable young people with issues such as homelessness.

Fortunate to have a skilled multi-media team at Youth Concern, we decided to make a series of short films to support the walking team's fundraising efforts. By combining the words of the 1 million steps walkers and some shots of Youth Concern clients and staff alongside information about services the funds raised would pay for, I hope you'll agree that the team have produced some fab short films.

Here Assan's film. See what you think.

https://youtu.be/E7dCGRaDI2c

The films are also helping us move a step further along our digital journey too. We're committed to raising awareness of disadvantaged and vulnerable young peoples issues as well as the difference Youth Concern makes to "at risk" young people in Aylesbury Vale. We know that we can reach a wider audience through embracing digital. Even though we're a small charity, we can optimise the skills and creativity we have amongst our staff team for the benefit of our young people.

As a charity, we have great ambitions for 2018 and the 1 million steps team are a great metaphor for the journey we are about to embark upon.

Need is growing for vulnerable young people. There is no doubt about that. Challenges for disadvantaged young people are growing and are becoming more complex.

At Youth Concern, we are equipping ourselves to embark on a journey with our young people. To improve and expand our services in order to continue to do what we do best...being there for young people when they need us most.

This is how one young person described the benefits of the support he'd received:

“I was in care, so it was good to have someone to talk to. You can ask for help – they make that easy. They helped me and I got a job. You’ve got to trust and take that help.”

If you are looking to support a local charity, punching above its weight in terms of beneficiary outcomes, then please do consider Youth Concern in Aylesbury.

There are plenty of ways to get involved. We welcome your skills, individually or as a group. Some businesses prefer the corporate sponsorship route. You'll find you'll get great personal satisfaction from being involved with a local charity where you can actually see the difference your involvement makes.

As David Doran, Managing Director of S4P Coaching Ltd put it :

“I decided to become a Corporate Friend of Youth Concern as I wanted to support a business local to where I live and where my company is based. I visited Youth Concern in Aylesbury and was immediately struck by the passion and professionalism of the staff there. Youth Concern provide immediate support for young people when they need it most and if the support from my business can help towards supporting one young person then it is worthwhile.”

Alternatively, if you'd like to support the 1 million steps team to reach their 3K fundraising target, then we'd be most grateful if you could sponsor them at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/karenmitchell3