Holt Youth Project building donation

Last week, on Thursday, July 21, we travelled over to Holt to celebrate the wonderful work of the Holt Youth Project. The Norfolk-based charity aims to give young carers from the age of six a safe place to exercise their right to be children, supporting them to flourish into successful young adults despite an array of different challenges they may face. The Holt Youth Project supports a variety of young individuals in overcoming struggles associated with mental health, learning disabilities, NEET’s and Asperger’s or Autism. Founders of the Holt Youth Project, Julie Alford, and her husband David, alongside their team of amazing staff, are responsible for supporting over 150 young children within the local area.

Roughly six months ago, company partners, Nick and Kirstin Crane first visited the Holt Youth Project with the hopes of being able to offer some form of donation to the charity. Following discussions with Julie, the company decided to donate two buildings to the team, to give them much needed additional space to continue their mission in supporting local youth.

In the past month we have installed a Superior Shed for additional storage and a Morston Summerhouse to be used as a resource centre by the local community. Our large Morston Summerhouse will be used as a clothing bank, as well as providing food boxes on certain days of the week. Fitted with a large disabled toilet and changing room, the resource centre will offer the local community a place to try on clothing and access food, as well as having a tea and coffee area. By providing a separate building to the project, the aim is to give local members of the community a safe and non-judgmental space to access support whenever they may need it.

A member of our installations team, who was responsible for erecting the buildings at the project, Ryan Hinds, was once a young carer between the ages of 11-16. He accessed support from the Holt Youth Project himself, saying that the charity played a significant role in his life and the people involved in the project feel like family to him.

Stand-in senior installer, Ryan said: “The Holt Youth Project was my childhood life from when I was 11 to 16, so because of everything they have done for me, it’s so nice to be able to give back to them.

“The fact that the project has expanded and now are helping more and more people, is so nice to be able to see.

Once Ryan found out about our upcoming collaboration with the Holt Youth Project, he insisted on being involved in the installation.

Ryan added: “If I could do more for them, then I would, because they’ve been there for me, and I want to be there for them.”

 “That’s why I was so glad I saw Nick and was able to get involved in putting the building up for them.”

Fellow charity, The Norfolk Superhero, is also donating £115,000 and counting to the project this year, to help them grow and develop. The allotment at the Holt Youth Project has also recently been revamped to give young children the opportunity to get involved in nature and gardening. The interior of the Morston has yet to be furnished, but we are excited to return on its completion and hope that our donation continues to support the Holt Youth Project in continuing to inspire young people across North Norfolk.

To find out more about the Holt Youth Project, click here.