“Our young people can turn things around when they have people in their lives that genuinely care, like our mentors so” – Salford Charity aiming to help young people

Charity Pure Insight is aiming to help young people in Salford by launching new drop-in sessions at a café in Little Hulton, particularly for care leavers.

Pure Insight, which supports young people who have left the care system, has been commissioned by Salford and other local councils to work with care leavers aged between 16 and 25. 

Team manager Kim Steele, who manages three areas, said: “We will be making a meal together, which will help support our young people to build their confidence with cooking and giving them that time to sit and eat and chat around a table together. Each session will have a different theme for activities.” 

The cafe drop-ins will be run by volunteers fortnightly from January 20.

Other activities have involved taking young people on trips hiking, kayaking, to Alton Towers and many more. 

Steele said: “We also do a Christmas Day dinner where anyone who would otherwise be alone is invited to Stockport to enjoy a tasty Christmas Dinner facilitated by our team and volunteers.”

At Pure Insight, young people are matched to their own volunteer mentor for at least two years.

She said: “This helps support young people at one of the most transient times in their life. Having someone positive to anchor on to, who has your best interests at heart is extremely powerful. 

“They commission us to work with their young care leavers and I think it’s just really important to highlight that they are really invested in supporting their care leavers to thrive. We also work with their Next Step team. They are responsible for the aftercare support of care leavers.” 

Pure Insight.s mission is to give young people a sense of belonging and connectedness to reduce them getting involved in criminality, to prevent them from becoming homeless and also offer psychological wellbeing support.
 

She said: “Our young people don’t have the usual family networks, supporting them to build their motivation and aspirations for the future reduces the risk of their children possibly going into care in the future.” 

To get help or volunteer go to: https://www.pure-insight.org.uk/ 

Or call: 0161 804 4410 

To volunteer, email: info@pure-insight.org.uk