In June, the Little Ilford Youth Zone used a Jack Petchey Foundation Leader Award Grant to visit an Escape Room with 18 young people and complete exercises as part of a wider programme to support and develop team work.

This off-site visit was part of a larger programme of work organised by the staff for individuals who may have suffered from not having a positive peer group or from feeling isolated and struggling to engage with others their own age for various reasons.

The group spent time talking about what makes a good friend, identifying traits of negative peers and ways that they could encourage more beneficial interactions.

The attending group have since gone on to support new members joining their club and ensuring they feel welcome and safe within the zone. Being aware that isolation and loneliness can lead to bad mental health, they have looked at ways in which the group could support themselves by getting involved with different organisations. They also examined how they could support others dealing with the same concerns and issues.

As the impacts of the exercises completed are becoming more prominent, an attending staff member said: “I have witnessed young people who took part in the programme supporting new members at the club by giving them tours of the building, introducing them to staff, activities and other members and the feedback received has been extremely positive”.

Want to see if you’re eligible for a Leader Award Grant? Take a look here.

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