FATIMA'S STORY: THE GLUE THAT KEEPS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

​Community groups and facilities is the glue that keeps so many communities together. To give you the direct quotes of some young people I’ve worked with:
“I don’t know where I’d be without this group”, “I feel like you guys get me, I’ve never felt that before”, “I love coming here, it gets me out the house”.

Whether it’s youth groups, community cafes, adult learning groups or sports clubs, each group has had a role to play during the cost of living crisis. During a time where many people may lack warm spaces, hot meals, company and laughter, community spaces have provided a safe, welcoming, non-judgemental and inclusive space for the most vulnerable to come along and just “be”.

Taking an example from my own work - throughout the cost of living crisis we introduced hot meals for all evening youth work provisions, ensuring all young people could access at least one hot meal a day. As a result, we seen a massive spike in numbers - it wasn’t unprecedented, we knew word was spreading and we were glad to be reaching more and more young people, however the current funding climate means we cannot spread our reach, or even sustain our current programmes.

These groups can provide a lifeline to individuals, they can be the glue holding a person or family together, but as budgets are slashed and resources are pushed to last longer and go further, it’s the people that suffer.

Over the last year - I’ve watched more and more groups, cafes and larders close due to increased costs and lack of funding. It’s not that these groups weren’t busy, weren’t reaching outcomes and weren’t making a difference - but they didn’t have the resources to back this. Even as I write this, my own job is in jeopardy as I struggle to secure more funding.

More funding, and importantly secure, sustainable funding is needed to allow community-based services to continue to deliver vital services to those most in need. I see first-hand each day the benefits on young people and families. At a time with lots of uncertainties and financial pressure, these groups are needed to respond to the needs of the community; develop resilience; build capacity and to empower communities.