Project description:

In response to the recent Covid-19 crisis, AYP will be running virtual engagement programmes and food collection and delivery for the most vulnerable and people from low income backgrounds. We are looking for a web developer that will allow us to create our website and enhance it with useful features, that can be used to host our virtual programmes and adheres to Google Adwords policy as we get $10,000/month in free Google Adowrds

Ansar Youth Project (AYP) is an exciting and innovative youth organisation which specialises in targeting young people from a diverse range of disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Brent and neighbouring boroughs. Most of our members:

●        Come from very low income households

●        Are in care

●        Are being bullied

●        Suffer from mental health issues

●        Come from abusive households

●        Are refugees

●        Young people with special needs

We are a leading organisation providing faith and culturally sensitive youth-work in our local communities. Our mission is to engage as many young people between the age of 11 and 17 in our specialised Youth Programme’s. We are the few organisations in the UK that are completely youth led and many of the participation barriers. If we had to stop our services due to lack of support, over 1,000 young people would no longer have access to youth services due to participation barriers. Over the past year, AYP has been able to engage with over 1,000 young people in North West London and are seeking to continue growing into wider parts of London.

Ansar Youth Project currently runs the following:

• Weekly youth clubs with developmental workshops engaging 20-30 young people per session engaging over 100 young people per week

• Employment programmes resulting in over 50 young people gaining support in CV writing and job applications

• Organise Qualifications for young people – resulting in over 100 young people gaining first aid and mental health first aid qualification

• Business Programmes training young people

• Peer Mentoring Programmes training over 50 youth mentors over the year to support younger people in the challenges they face in their lives.

• Provide over 500 volunteer opportunities for young people a year

• Provide teamwork, leadership and developmental opportunities for over 150 young people per year, to further aid their holistic development.

• Over 1,000 young people benefit from our work per year

Our Covid-19 Response

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 all the young people and most family members are at home in isolation. Due to this many of our members and families have been suffering the following issues:

●        Unable to access food and essential supplies due to low income or being quarantined

●        The most vulnerable in the surrounding locality,  needing  support, who are struggling with food, medication and general physical support

●        A large number of our young people come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have challenging issues that include:

○         Come from extremely low income backgrounds

○         Abusive households and are suffering as they cannot escape

○         Increased mental health issues while in isolation and no access to coping mechanisms

○         Loss of income from unemployment caused by the pandemic and are not covered by the government support schemes

How we will address the above:

Food Delivery and Collection Service for the most vulnerable

●        We will be getting food donations from some of our partners (Felix Project, Fareshare, City Harvest and local shops / restaurants)

●        We will be getting heavily subsidised products such as hand sanitisers from inKindid Direct and The RedBox Project

●        We will then collate all products at our Youth Club and sort it to be put in parcels for those who are in need with volunteers from the community

●        These products will go to low income families and the most vulnerable in our community that include; over 70s, people with underlying health conditions, who we know through our community projects.

●        Parcels will also be saved for young people attending the daily youth club (children of key workers) this will ensure that key workers who sometimes have difficulties shopping due to the current panic buying situation will receive food.

●        To ensure safety of volunteers and those receiving food parcels a range of measures will be in place. Products will be disinfected upon arrival. Volunteers will be screened for a fever before entering (via a laser thermometer). Hand Sanitiser will be used by anyone entering and exiting the building. The building will be disinfected thoroughly before and after sessions. Gloves will be worn by all volunteers. Upon entering volunteers will be briefed on safe working practice to ensure they understand how they can reduce the risk of catching and spreading the virus

Virtual Engagement Project to help people in isolation

●        We are also launching a daily virtual engagement program for young people through our social media channels and Kahoot. This is how we will deliver our Youth Work curriculum and support them in their education while the schools are closed. Most importantly, the work we carry will be essential to help people in isolation.

●        Our activities will include; tutorials, home workouts to help them stay fit and active, Q & A’s, and workshops that will not only be interesting but will also result in qualifications. This will help ensure young people are still actively participating in our services as well as learning new things. We will also be actively ensuring that young people are engaged and remain in communication with the friends they have developed at the youth club. This will ensure none of these young people become isolated.

●        Due to the young people, we engage coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, these young people’s families may require support. Through digital engagement, a line of communication may be established allowing us to support and refer to other services. In the first two weeks, our volunteers will call our membership database of young people to check up on them to see if they need any support during this period. If we can help through food deliveries or virtual engagement we will, if not we will refer them to partner organisations.

●        These activities will also serve as diversionary. Preventing young people who do not understand the severity of COVID-19, leaving the house and meeting their friends. This will further reduce the spread of the virus and reduce strain on the emergency services.

●        We are partnering up with CharityDigitalExchange and Electronic Arts who have agreed to provide free software and games. Computer Aid have agreed to provide computers and laptops to 50 young people from low-income families at a heavily subsidized rate. To ensure as many young people as possible may access this project.

●        We find many young people come to the youth club computers after school to finish their homework. With little access to a library or computer, young people may find it difficult to keep up with their education and keep entertained whilst isolated. 

●        Online recruitment portal and 1-2-1 job application support will be provided through social media and skype

Provision of activities for children of key workers – this will only be run if and when it is required in line with government and council guidelines

We will resume our daily 5 day a week Youth Club open for young people whose parents are considered key workers. This would put less strain on NHS employees and allow more staff to continue working without having to worry about childcare etc. as their children have a safe place to be during work hours.  This will take place Monday – Friday from 4 – 8 for young people aged 8-14.

The youth club sessions will:

●        Provide a diversionary programme of activities that will help keep the young people engaged while their parents are able to support and help the people who need it the most

●        Provide mentoring support to these young people who will need extra support while their parents work and deal with the effects of isolation

We will take extreme precautions with this club and include:

●        Number of young people will be limited (referral only)

●        We will abide by social distancing guidelines set out by the government – ensure everyone is at least 2 meters apart

●        Young people will be asked to wash hand regularly

●        We have laser thermometers, which can be used to assess if a fever is present.

●        All surfaces will be regularly wiped down and disinfected. (Before and after each session as a minimum.)

●        Activities that will be holistic and designed to engage and develop all of the young people who attend.

●        Youth worker support to develop relationships with the young people who may be going through difficulties with their health due to the knowledge that their parents are placing themselves at risk. Our staff are mental health first aid trained and will be able to support these young people.

How this will help

SECURE FOOD SUPPLY

●        Ensuring members of the community (especially low-income families and the elderly) have adequate access to food and essential items at a time where they may not be able to access or afford such items.  We will provide essential food packages and supplies to over 500 people over the course of the 3-month period.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMME DELIVERY

●        50-60% of our members do not have access to a computer, tablet to continue with their education, or help support them through isolation. In partnership with Computer Aid we will be able to top spec computers for only £100 each

●        Through our virtual engagement programme we will engage over 250 people directly supporting them in isolation.

●        Indirectly we expect over 10,000 people to benefit from the virtual engagement programme while in isolation. This is due to the fact that Google has given us $10,000/month in free Google Adwords to promote our online activities.

SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE

●        Families from extremely low backgrounds will be given computers to help deal with being in isolation. This will help the young people keep up with their studies and stay in contact with friends.

●        This idea has come from our Youth Management Committee They are 16+ service users and have expressed an interest in setting up a food bank, to help and support their community. This will ensure that young people are doing something valuable whilst being out of school. Furthermore, ensuring those on the front line have the support they need to continue doing their job.

●        This will bring a better sense of community cohesion and partnership working for neighbourhoods in London and the UK. This is especially important to foster when we are socially isolated from one another. We are also looking to expand this project to other Boroughs if successful

ENSURE CONTINUED SOCIAL CONTACT

●        Young people and families becoming interconnected and performing activities together.

Support pledged to the Covid-19 Response so Far

●        50+ volunteers rallying to support our projects with many more expected over the next few weeks

●        Sanitary Supplies through various donors to the value of £2,500.00

●        Food and essential supplies from London Supermarkets to the value of £4,000.00 and much more promised over the next few months

●        Software for from Charity Digital Exchange to the value of £4,500.00

●        Games from Electronic Arts to the value of £5,000.00

●        Computer Aid have kindly agreed to supply top spec desktop PCs for £100 each and Laptops for £180 each