EMR Swindon supports youth wellbeing in partnership with STEP Swindon

The mental health and wellbeing of young people has been boosted thanks to a partnership between local metal recycler EMR Swindon and youth charity STEP Swindon.

Operating throughout Swindon, the charity offers support and life skills development opportunities to enable young people suffering from mental health issues as a result of psychical and emotional abuse, social isolation and poverty, or caring for a loved one. Their interventions aim to help young people raise their self-esteem, develop communication skills, work with their peers and form appropriate friendships, assertiveness and anger management.

EMR has given a £3,000 donation which will be used to help more young people access the charities intervention programmes. This will enable 12 young people to access the 14-week programme based around the NHS initiative ‘five ways to well-being’. Individuals will be taught to reflect on their thoughts, feelings and actions, along with providing them with positive solutions to overcoming challenges and reducing their stress, anxieties and isolation.

STEP Swindon partnered with the local metal recycler as part of its Young Futures Reimagined programme, an initiative which aims to help young people across the country build brighter futures and afford them with opportunities which may have otherwise been unattainable.

Colin Huntley, General Manager at EMR Swindon, commented:

“Over the past couple of years young people have faced circumstances that would have once have been unimaginable and as a result need support.

“Left unresolved issues from their past may affect their development and prevent them from transitioning into a positive adult life. The support that STEP Swindon offers stops this from becoming a reality and helps young people to develop the coping mechanisms needed to deal with these issues. I have no doubt that these young people’s lives will be changed for the better.”

Johanna Bryant, Project Director at STEP Swindon described the different this donation would make:

“We are so thankful for the donation from EMR. These funds will enable us as a charity to support children from across Swindon to develop the skills necessary to manage the circumstances they find themselves in and to become positive members of their families, peer groups and wider communities.”