Young influencers create emergency packs of essentials for those most in need

A group of youngsters in Wrexham have created emergency bags packed full of essentials for those most in need.

The AVOW Young Influencers, part of the Youth Led Grand Scheme by Welsh Government, administered through the WCVA), received an application from Wrexham’s Info Shop for a small grant to allow them to gift some selection boxes for young people who are homeless, or in temporary accommodation.

The Young Influencers looked at the grant and realised that it was in their power to do more.

In December, the Young Influencers gave a grant of £500 pounds to the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Service, with a further £500 for emergency bags to follow.

The Youth Led Grant Scheme is a grant scheme where by young people between the ages of 14 and 25 (the Young Influencers) make real decisions about how grant money is spent.

On 21 July, Isabelle Prince, a representative of the Young Influencers, and AVOW staff visited Info Shop to deliver the bits and pieces that will become part of the emergency bags that the Info Shop staff can give out to those in desperate need.

These are practical things like deodorant and washing items, instant food, hot chocolate, hats, blankets and Greggs vouchers.

There are battery packs to help keep their phones charged. The Young people need access to the internet in order to be able to apply for accommodation, jobseekers’ allowance, and other benefits, many of which are only accessible online.

The Greggs vouchers ensure that they are at least able to have something warm to eat. In putting together what the young people might need, the Young Influencers panel have also added some quick dry food, as well as a bag to help carry it all in.

These kits will ensure that young people who are homeless, or in danger of being homeless have a few essentials to make it through that moment of crisis.

“A Huge thank you to the Young Influencers. The impact that this will have on the young people that we support is huge,” said Lucy Easton, Youth Homeless Prevention Coordinator for the Youth Homeless Prevention Service.

“So many people end up in temporary accommodation don’t have anything, just perhaps the clothes they are standing up in, so all of this will be a great help.”

“It’s our pleasure entirely” said Katherine Prince, Development Manager for Volunteering, Community and Finance at AVOW.

“The young influencers are really appreciative of everything that you do.”