Empowering Young People in the Southwest. Project Launch!

Can you help with the launch of a powerful project which aims to empower young people, and improve; society, the local economy, mental health and the environment?

Indipendent Projects is a new venture which seeks your help and support in initially tackling a major problem in Devon which reflects the the UK.

We are not making the best use of the unique talents, skills, experience and creative passions of many young people. Precarious work and under employment is a major challenge at an all time high. Low pay, poor contractual and potentially exploitative conditions, uncertainty and economic inactivity are a daily experience on top of the cost of living crisis, isolation and poor mental health amongst young people following COVID.

This is a bad for the long term well being for individuals and also undermines the longer term success of the local economy. This needs to change.

Everyone needs to start work somewhere but the opportunity to move forward and progress to sustainable jobs is badly needed. Giving young people a better understanding of the local labour market as well as generating confidence and aspiration are an important first step.

We want your help to launch a pilot action to encourage young people on this journey.

We will organize an initial beach clean up session for a small group of around 8 young people currently living is supported housing (plus staff members) to bring people together, create a sense of teamwork and deliver practical outcomes.

Blended into that we will combine an informal and interactive session to explore attitudes and aspirations around future work as well as un understanding of employment rights to help protect young workers from exploitation. This will be a first step to development of a new and innovative programme to tackle this endemic problem.

We will also be reaching out to local media outlets in order to give the young people a platform to change the, often negative, narrative around young people and tell their stories.

Initially we seek to raise a modest sum of £1000 to cover the travel, PPE, materials, admin and refreshment costs of the first session which will be delivered in partnership with a local homelessness charity for 16-25 year olds.

Can you help us?

For more information and if you would to contact us about this project future projects please follow this link (but kindly do not download/redistribute):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EkxkYACuqAIzpvwlhPIHuKL3JF1B8ub8/view?usp=sharing

India McIndoe and David Jepson

(Both experienced professionals in the fields of social support, human rights and employment)