Ykids

Finding a charity to collaborate with wasn’t just a ‘tick-box’ exercise or because it seemed the right thing to do to promote our business, it’s a fundamental part of our firm’s ethos so it had to be the right one. Our objective was to find a charity that was local, that we were able to work closely with and most importantly, one that we believed in.

We knew we wanted to be proactively involved with the charity, not only financially, but also to build strong relationships with the people involved and to understand and support the future goals and direction of the charity.

From the outset we knew we wanted a charity partner that was involved in supporting children. We are passionate about helping children and we believe strongly that given the right opportunities and support; every child has endless capabilities. David and Frances, from their own personal experience as foster parents, an experience that changed their lives, understand first-hand that giving a child the right chances can lead to some fantastic results.

We first learned about Ykids in May 2023 and during the first meeting with Louisa, the Children’s Work Lead and Capacity Builder, we believed we had found the charity that we could support. We were shocked by the some of the statistics that were shared with us in that first meeting including the following:

• Bootle is an area ranking in the highest 1% in the multiple indices for deprivation in the UK
• Crime is 200% higher in Bootle than the national average – The most common crimes are violent crime and sexual assault
• Bootle’s literacy rates are in the bottom 6% in the country
• 45% of children starting school in Bootle are already behind when they leave Key Stage 1
• 84% of young people in Bootle do not achieve the national standard for Maths and English by the time they leave school
• A child born in Bootle has a reduced life expectancy. (12 years less than the national average and 20 years less than some of the UK’s most affluent areas)
• Child poverty has increased by 17% in Bootle over the last 5 years

*Source Church Urban Fund poverty map/National Census and Sefton Council Ward Statistics

It made us realise that apart from financial help, there was also the potential for us to help in other ways, to get involved and hopefully help make a difference by supporting the YKids Vision.

‘Our vision is to raise World Changers – young people who believe in themselves and have the skills and opportunities to make a difference in their own lives and in the world around them. To grow up in an environment where they feel safe, loved and lead happy, productive and ambitious lives.’

After visiting their amazing YKids centre and Kingsley & Co, which is YKids’ own delightful children’s bookshop and café in Bootle, we were certain that this was the charity we wanted to support.

We have been blown away by the tireless work YKids are doing with the amazing children in our local communities. We look forward to building our relationship YKids and thank them for allowing us to be a small part of their future ambitions to ‘Make Change’ ‘Be Change’ and Champion Change’. #forwhenitmatters. For more information, please visit the YKids website.