So, why are we doing this 600 mile cycle ride, carrying
everything we need for two weeks on our bikes, including our camping gear? Apart from experiencing something unlike
anything that we have ever previously undertaken, marking the end of Chris’
schooling in an unusual and inspiring way, and reminding him when he heads off
to University in the autumn (should he get the necessary grades) that he has a
totally cool mum back home, what is it all about?
Amongst all the excitement, planning, budgeting, researching and training for The 150 Day Adventure, we are keeping our sights very firmly focused on the real reason for doing the ride and that is to raise £600 to enable disadvantaged young people in Cheltenham enjoy some of the “privileges” which we take so much for granted.
For almost 8 years, I have been working with homeless young people at the YMCA in Cheltenham. To most people, Cheltenham is a town of affluence and influence, with its various festivals taking place throughout the year, the impressive town centre with its expensive restaurants and amazing architecture, its public schools and colleges, its beautiful parks and recreational facilities. However, like many towns and cities in England today, you don’t have to scratch the surface too hard to discover that Cheltenham has a growing number of young people who, for a variety of reasons, are either homeless, under threat of becoming homeless or who are living in totally unsuitable accommodation. Some “sofa surf” – spending a few nights with one friend or another before their presence becomes too much of an inconvenience and they are forced to find another floor to sleep on. Others are living in homes where they are the victims of abuse – physical, emotional or sexual – or are in unsuitable relationships just to ensure they have a roof over their heads. After all, surely anything is better than having to sleep on the streets, isn’t it?
This type of chaotic lifestyle makes it impossible to continue studying or to even think about gaining meaningful employment. Can you imagine trying to fill in an application form when you haven’t the slightest idea how to complete that most simple of sections entitled “Address”? Or trying to keep up-to-date with your homework, when you don’t even know how you are going to scrape together enough money to get something to eat tonight, let alone ensure that you have a clean, uncrumpled shirt to wear tomorrow?
Over the years, Cheltenham YMCA has provided a home for countless young people, not only giving them a safe place to stay, but also providing them with support and encouragement, enabling them to return to education, to find a job and to learn the life skills required to live independently in the community.
Whilst safe and secure accommodation is fundamental to the well-being of every individual, we have become aware that young people like those who live at the YMCA, or those who come from less affluent backgrounds, have very limited opportunity to undertake an adventure of the type that we are due to set off on later this year. We have already experienced some of the benefits of the 150 Day Adventure: the improvement in health and fitness, the skills which are being developed through research into the kit needed, our geographical knowledge, not to mention our budgeting skills as we definitely do not have access to limitless resources! These are all transferable life skills and, in the same way that our lives are being enhanced and enriched by them, we would like to be able to extend that to other young people.
We have set ourselves a target of raising £600 to not only help provide safe and secure accommodation for some of the most vulnerable young people in our community, but also to give them the opportunity of participating in some extraordinary adventures, raising their awareness of the world around them, making them more healthy and more employable.
£600 is a lot of money, but we hope that you will help us to achieve it and to join us in offering young people the opportunity of changing their lives for the better, and developing skills that will move them towards a more meaningful and exciting future.
To make a donation through our page on Virgin Money Giving click here.
If you would like further information about The 150 Day Adventure, please contact us.
Amongst all the excitement, planning, budgeting, researching and training for The 150 Day Adventure, we are keeping our sights very firmly focused on the real reason for doing the ride and that is to raise £600 to enable disadvantaged young people in Cheltenham enjoy some of the “privileges” which we take so much for granted.
For almost 8 years, I have been working with homeless young people at the YMCA in Cheltenham. To most people, Cheltenham is a town of affluence and influence, with its various festivals taking place throughout the year, the impressive town centre with its expensive restaurants and amazing architecture, its public schools and colleges, its beautiful parks and recreational facilities. However, like many towns and cities in England today, you don’t have to scratch the surface too hard to discover that Cheltenham has a growing number of young people who, for a variety of reasons, are either homeless, under threat of becoming homeless or who are living in totally unsuitable accommodation. Some “sofa surf” – spending a few nights with one friend or another before their presence becomes too much of an inconvenience and they are forced to find another floor to sleep on. Others are living in homes where they are the victims of abuse – physical, emotional or sexual – or are in unsuitable relationships just to ensure they have a roof over their heads. After all, surely anything is better than having to sleep on the streets, isn’t it?
This type of chaotic lifestyle makes it impossible to continue studying or to even think about gaining meaningful employment. Can you imagine trying to fill in an application form when you haven’t the slightest idea how to complete that most simple of sections entitled “Address”? Or trying to keep up-to-date with your homework, when you don’t even know how you are going to scrape together enough money to get something to eat tonight, let alone ensure that you have a clean, uncrumpled shirt to wear tomorrow?
Over the years, Cheltenham YMCA has provided a home for countless young people, not only giving them a safe place to stay, but also providing them with support and encouragement, enabling them to return to education, to find a job and to learn the life skills required to live independently in the community.
Whilst safe and secure accommodation is fundamental to the well-being of every individual, we have become aware that young people like those who live at the YMCA, or those who come from less affluent backgrounds, have very limited opportunity to undertake an adventure of the type that we are due to set off on later this year. We have already experienced some of the benefits of the 150 Day Adventure: the improvement in health and fitness, the skills which are being developed through research into the kit needed, our geographical knowledge, not to mention our budgeting skills as we definitely do not have access to limitless resources! These are all transferable life skills and, in the same way that our lives are being enhanced and enriched by them, we would like to be able to extend that to other young people.
We have set ourselves a target of raising £600 to not only help provide safe and secure accommodation for some of the most vulnerable young people in our community, but also to give them the opportunity of participating in some extraordinary adventures, raising their awareness of the world around them, making them more healthy and more employable.
£600 is a lot of money, but we hope that you will help us to achieve it and to join us in offering young people the opportunity of changing their lives for the better, and developing skills that will move them towards a more meaningful and exciting future.
To make a donation through our page on Virgin Money Giving click here.
If you would like further information about The 150 Day Adventure, please contact us.