With a meeting tomorrow that will decide whether Breakers Community Interest Company (Breakers CIC) can open before the Summer Holidays, there is a lot of support coming through.
Local press and media such as the Andover Advertiser, Breeze and Castledown Radio have been covering the progression and local charities have been keen to see the project take off with Breakers CIC having spoken to Andover Mind, The Junction and PAPYRUS.
PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS (a National UK Charity dedicated to Prevention of Young Suicide) have shown a lot of support for the project.
“As an organisation for you to signpost your teenage services users to, we can offer practical advice and short term support via phone, text or e-mail. We can point young people in the right direction to seek help, and encourage them to engage with support that is in place for them” said a spokesperson.
“Another aspect of what we do is our community outreach training and talks which aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding young suicide. We would be happy to provide this kind of training to you, your staff or your young service users”
“In terms of our literature and posters we would be happy to provide you with printed material to make it easier for our organisation to be visible and available to your service users. We have credit card-sized information cards with our contact details, pamphlets and leaflets on issues such as friends, students and communicating how we are feeling, and posters.”
The Junction
The Breakers project has also had support from Andover charity The Junction who said “Having met Anji Gillies to discuss the re-opening of Breakers in its new format and having read through the ‘Aim Breakers C.I.C’ this is positive step forward for the youth in Andover as there are limited facilities for young people who are living with limited or no income; in addition in a positive and pragmatic environment for young people to take part in activities either of a social or healthy living setting for example: a free class which could be fitness related.”
“Having spoken to Anji and also knowing the strain on agencies government/voluntary in the current fiscal situation, it would mean that there could be joint working for the good of the young people in a relaxed and non threatening location, this could assist in helping solve/identify problems prior to them becoming a crisis.”
“Breakers is not trying to become an agency working with young people they are a community business who’s aim is to become a valuable and progressive business, who will willing work with agencies to the improvement of the Andover area, with changes to the bus station and the proposed changes to the Chantry Centre this is a positive steps forward if our young people had this kind of facility.”
“It would also mean that parents have a positive location, which gives the children a sense of independence in a safe environment. In addition as a business they will offer a new facility to the town.”
“We support the idea of Breakers re-opening as it can offer services to a variety of people and ages in the community, additionally proving more employment to area.”
Breakers CIC
Last week the Andover Advertiser interviewed PAPYRUS chairman Stephen Habgood about further resources being made available. Read the full article on the Andover Advertiser website here.
Anji for Breakers CIC said: “Whilst we cannot claim to stop this we truly believe that we can offer a good start to rejuvenating the town centre by offering facilities for a wide range of local people of all ages. If we can help one person or help only a few people to seek the help they need by signposting and raising awareness then the project will be worth it.”
“Once open the project will be self sufficient and should be able to help fund all sorts of local events and projects as well as helping other locals to set up Community Interest Companies to encourage everyone to get involved with the town.”
Links
- Breakers CIC (website)
- Andover Mind (website)
- The Junction (website)
- PAPYRUS (website)
- Andover Advertiser (article search)
We at Fibromyalga/Me Andover group, would love to see this open and hope to use it in the future, well done all 🙂
We hope to help awareness of all local charities so hopefully we can work together 😀