'The Next Step' will provide homeless, vulnerable young people with accommodation for up to a year & a bespoke support package to help them transition to sustainable independent living. Whilst our current response to youth homelessness - Aylesbury Nightstop, is a successful solution to the initial homelessness crisis, it does not always solve the longer-term accommodation problem. In about 50% of cases, there is NO NEXT STEP for these young people & so they remain homeless. This is why it is vital we raise the last £31k needed to deliver this life-changing project for the young people of Aylesbury Vale. We have already received commitment from supporters to fund 87% of the project costs. We plan to raise the remaining 13% via grant funding, corporate sponsorship, fundraising events, & crowdfunding, which is where we need your help! Your pledge will provide: £10 = food & toiletries pack £25 = counselling session £100 = employment skills course £450 = room + full support for 1 week

What we'll deliver:

• 10 bed youth homeless supported accommodation facility
• Support packages re health, skills, employment & resettlement
• Business mentoring
• Counselling
• Smooth tranisition to independent living

Why it's a great idea:

Over the past year, at Youth Concern in Aylesbury, we’ve had 84 young people come to us who are facing a homelessness crisis. We believe passionately that every young person needs a safe home. Plus support and guidance to get themselves back on their feet. 'The Next Step' project aims to do just that. Provide young people facing a homelessness crisis with a safe home for up to 1 year, plus wraparound support focusing on health, skills, employment and resettlement. Youth Concern will also offer these young people counselling to help them with emotional issues and a business mentor to support them into work or education. Our supporters, the Thomas Hickman Charity, are purchasing premises for us. We will convert this building to create a 10 bed shared home. We are crowdfunding for the funds to support the young people in our care with counselling, life skills etc.

Steps to get it done:

• Purchase property
• Promote corporate sponsorship packages
• Community information and awareness programme
• Convert property, involving young people
• Meet startup funding target
• Recruit project staff
• Launch community event
• Open 'The Next Step' Homeless Accomodation Project for Young People

We have found a beautiful property which The Thomas Hickman Charity have offered to buy for the Next Step project to be run from. With the help of a fab organisation called COSPA/VIY we will convert the building from a 5 bed to a 10 bed home. And some of our young people will be involved in the conversion work, earning themselves qualifications in the process and gaining valuable employment skills. Youth Concern has been supporting vulnerable young people for nearly 40 years. So we know how to help and empower young people who are vulnerable and struggling. We have good relationships with other organisations locally who can also offer support to these young people, to give them a real chance. Crucially, we have the passion and commitment to make a difference. To be there for and respond to young people when they need us most. 'The Next Step' project will be a lifeline for young people experiencing homelessness. And it will save public services money in the long run too.