YouMatter works with young people in Jersey to help build their self-esteem and develop an understanding of their true value and worth.
Through workshops, children and young people learn to identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships both online and offline, as well as providing them with practical skills to stay safe. The charity
also equips them with ways to build and maintain positive emotional health and wellbeing.
Additionally, YouMatter is a specialist Personal Social and Health Education charity, with expert knowledge of Relationships and Sex Education. All the workshops on offer are free of charge to ensure that money isn’t a barrier to young people receiving the support they deserve. YouMatter promotes equality of access to all its services and to enable it to do so, the charity relies on donations.
The Foundation awarded £66,000 towards the salaries of the Educators.
Over the last year, the grant has funded the delivery of education programmes to more than 3,000 young people. The charity has also undertaken targeted one-toone and small-group work for vulnerable, disadvantaged young people.
“We are so very grateful to the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands for their continued support of YouMatter”, said Sarah Gray, Executive Director for YouMatter.
“Our high-quality workshops are an important part of the Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) provision in Jersey and ensure that children and young people in our community receive interactive, engaging, upto-date and age-appropriate relationships and sex education.
“Our workshops inspire and equip them to make healthy choices in respect of the pressures and challenges that they face in the world today.”
In 2022, 98% of young people said that they felt empowered to foster positive relationships with the people in their lives because of the workshops and 98% said that they felt equipped with practical strategies and knowledge to look after their own emotional health and wellbeing.
One young person told YouMatter after a workshop, “This session will help us in future relationships. I will remember to be open with my partner and respect their decisions, and they must respect mine.”
