CHIPS, the international Christian peacemaking charity, today launched an emergency response and crowdfunding appeal to help Brixton’s vulnerable families and young people make it through the Coronavirus crisis.
The charity will offer struggling families urgent practical and emotional support and provide young people and their schools with a programme of activities to support mental health and keep them connected to their community. This includes:
· Listening, mentoring and support with employment, financial, emotional and other issues through regular phone check-ins.
· A programme of innovative online activities to help young people combat isolation, including group challenges, fitness and creative activities developed in partnership with young people themselves.
· Practical help for families for their most urgent needs, from assistance with shopping and prescriptions to food and fuel top-ups when there’s nobody else to help.
· A signposting service to direct vulnerable people to the right place for specialist support from partner charities, community groups and local authority teams.
· Provision of resources to help young people continue their learning while schools are closed.
CHIPS is working closely with several other community organisations and with schools to maximise reach and impact. The charity has successfully repurposed some money from existing grants and has launched a public crowdfunding appeal to raise £10,000 and help close the shortfall. Donations can be made online at crowdfunder.co.uk/brixtonresponse until the end of April.
