This has been an amazing year in the lives of so many young people, who have benefited from their connection to the Kings Arms Project (KA). The needs and traumas of a teenager’s life are evermore affecting the life of our communities and the nation. The answer to those needs, particularly mental health issues, including anxiety, aggression and loneliness could be a youth club in every town and village and city in this country. I am writing to inform you that Petersfield, Alton and now Horndean have amazing local provisions.

 

My thanks to you, our community, for standing with us and enabling us to be the good news our society needs. This would not happen without hundreds of local people, caring, fundraising, volunteering and investing in the future of young people, thank you all!

 

This year we would like to ask for your help to communicate the needs of our youth to local business communities, local business people and entrepreneurs, and to ask for their help so that we can continue this vital work. Please connect us to any business or individual who would like to know more about this project and might choose to invest in young lives.

 

This may seem an unusual start to my report but I am sure you know all charities are facing growing pressures finding funding. Because there is a reduction in national support we need to find ways to gain greater support from our local communities. And this is why we are asking for your help. 2025 is our KA 25th Silver Jubilee year and so would you consider donating £25 to us. £1 for every year we have been supporting young people so far. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/twentyfivefortwentyfive

 

We are sure you will enjoy seeing the reports of all our team leaders, staff and management, who are so passionate and committed to this work. Much of what you read may bring you to tears. So much of the credit for this project’s huge influence on young people originates with our inspirational leader and CEO Caroline Aeschliman and her leadership team, consisting of: Annemarie Woods who heads our Alton centre, Larisa Mendresse Elder who heads our Petersfield centre, Dom Clarke who heads our Horndean development work, and Will Schofield who is our Operations Manager and proves himself invaluable in so many ways particularly releasing the rest of the leadership team into their roles.

 

A big thank you to our wonderful trustees who transform and govern the scope of our work supporting and leading our face-to-face work with young people. Our deputy chairperson Steve Field (our policy lead), our invaluable finance Trustee Anne Deakin, Robin Kemp and Hannha Turner who are our links with the Alton community, and Richard Emmens, who brings an eye for detail for which I am personally extremely grateful. Having Hannah on board has been great - who headed up the work in our early days as a youth club. Volunteering your skills makes King’s Arms function so well.

 

Community change comes about when good people stand together and determine to make a difference. I can honestly report that a huge number of young lives have been helped and changed, to the relief and joy of their parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbours and so many more people who want the best for the next generation.