To Our Community,
Young people, colleagues, and Bristol as a community are at the heart of what we do. Therefore as a result of the COVID-19 situation and following the recommendations of WHO and UK Government, we are taking a number of actions to continue our work for less advantaged young people and families i.e. within the context of these new constraints and challenges.
YOUNG PEOPLE & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
As of March 18, 2020, all Babbasa staff members have been advised to work from home for the foreseeable future. Staff members have been provided with the information and resources to do this in a way that is safe, protects confidentiality and minimises interruption to the support we offer young people and our normal working hours. All group activities and face-to-face social appointments have been cancelled. For urgent enquiries, please call or email as follows:
- Young People: outreach@byep.org.uk | 07376428817 |
- Local Residents & Referral Partners: jenny.kerridge@byep.org.uk
- Funders & Employers: Hannah.young@byep.org.uk
- Other stakeholder enquiries: lizzie.potter@byep.org.uk
Further information on our COVID-19 policy can be found here.
RECOGNISING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 & THE NEED FOR YOUR SUPPORT
As the emails come flooding in about cancellations, be it from employers on agreed placements for young people to have their first work experience, scheduled fundraising events or mentors rescinding their support for vulnerable young people; it becomes clear that the pandemic is not just a threat to our health and the economy. It also has the potential to undermine the entire voluntary sector’s ability to support the most vulnerable in society.
Under normal circumstances, Babbasa aimed to raise £350,000 in 2020, to enable our talented but small team to support the 300+ young people that rely on us, for hope and access to a better life. We already know that young people from the predominant communities we engage (ethnic minorities) are 47% more likely to be on zero hour contracts. We also that businesses who are likely to take up the UK Government’s proposed support loans, will do so to ensure their survival through crisis, and not to retain ‘non essential’ workers – of which many are the guardians of these young people. It is therefore pressing for Babbasa to ensure that we have an open line of communication to assist these young people and families in these troubled times.
We need your support more than ever. A donation here, if you are able to make one, will go a long way to help us ensure minimum disruption to the support needed by local young people and families who are adversely affected. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and those close to you, the very best of health during this time.
Kind regards,
Poku Osei, CEO
On behalf of the entire Babbasa family