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YMCA Y2½ Sponsored Walk in aid of The Life Change Fund

Sunday 25^th May 2008

Last month you were invited to consider joining a group from Wonersh Church to complete a 12- mile sponsored walk from Ranmore Common to YMCA Guildford. Individual walkers would not be expected to find sponsors because we will walk as a group, and be sponsored as a group via the church congregation. You simply need to enjoy walking and be happy to walk as part of the Wonersh Church Group. The walk is in aid of the Guildford YMCA Life Change Fund. This fund was started by the former vicar of Wonersh, Jeff Wattley, when he and Martin Downs took on the challenge of sailing across the Atlantic. This gave an initial boost to the Fund but the vital work that it does supporting the young people of Guildford and the surrounding areas, needs to be continually paid for.

The particular projects that the Fund helps finance are as follows:

• Plantation Café – a youth drop-in café, open daily after school, and on Saturdays. It is staffed by trained youth workers who are able to offer support, a listening ear and referrals to other services, if appropriate.
• Motivate – which works with 16 – 25 year olds who do not attend school or college, or do not have a job or training place. Through a range of programmes, including Prince’s Trust Teams, ‘One Month To Motivate’ and one-to-one support, Motivate helps these young people to build their self-esteem and confidence, develop skills and make positive and lasting changes to their lives.
• Ngage – which works with 13 and 14 year olds who are struggling at school, helping them to stay engaged in education and working on the reasons for their lack of engagement.
• Plantation Trading – a social enterprise project that gives young people the opportunity to train and work in the gardening business, whilst receiving the support that they need.
• Open House Counselling – provides free counselling to young people through volunteer counsellors.

The Guildford YMCA Life Change Fund raises money to support all these projects, ensuring that young people are helped to develop their skills and talents, provide the support they need when the ‘going gets tough’ and helps them build a positive and bright future for themselves.

As you can see the Fund has many areas of influence, and walking to support it will be much appreciated. Please consider whether you would like to join the walkers or to sponsor the group – sponsors from outside the Wonersh Church congregation are also very welcome.

For further details, or in order to offer sponsorship, please contact Mandy MacVean Tel: 893335.

On Sunday May 4^th. Pete Brayne, director of the YMCA will be preaching at the 10am service in Wonersh Parish Church. Please feel free to come along and learn more about the YMCA and The Life Change Fund.

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