The Townsend Youth Partnership (Charity number 1093213) is situated on the Townsend estate in Bournemouth. The partnership provides a safe place for young people to go, providing positive opportunities for them to develop personal and social/interpersonal skills.
The partnership recently received a grant of £24,980 awarded by Postcode Local Trust, thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery to enable the delivery of The Chatterboxes, a youth action project run by young people with disabilities.
The Chatterbox project aims to give disabled young people the opportunity to fulfil their potential whilst improving their well-being, self-esteem and independence.
The Chatterboxes’ raise awareness of disabilities and create a community which is equal for all whilst being surrounded by friendship and laughter.
Activities include: Peer-to-peer support, Filmmaking, Magazine design, Cookery, Arts and crafts and much more! AQA Awards are also completed by members as well as using a peer mentoring scheme throughout their projects.
Young members also deliver awareness workshops/ training in the community, create youth friendly literature and organise community awareness events.
There is a focus on transitions and supporting members to build skills to help them in the future.
As a project they support young people with disabilities such as Autism, Learning Disabilities, visual impairments, Down Syndrome to name a few and have seen a year-on-year increase in young disabled people accessing the project with complex issues.
Sadly, they see this rise continuing but as a project aim to be able to provide 1:1 support and guidance to individual young people and their families.
Over 52 young people attend each week.
Dr Gareth Sherwood, YMCA Bournemouth’s CEO said:
“We love our Chatterboxes, we are so glad others do too! We are very grateful for this grant which enables us to continue the amazing work of our team with the Chatterboxes.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “I am delighted that these funds will help turn dreams into reality for young people with living with disabilities, helping create a community of support, awareness, and boundless opportunities.”