Concordia Youth Action completes 124 hours of volunteering in Sussex

Young people across Sussex have been taking action in the community to help others during the pandemic.
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Various causes were supported in 2020 by Concordia Youth Action and the group completed 124 hours of volunteer work, including helping the homeless and caring for the elderly.

The group is run by the international charity Concordia, based in Portslade, and helps teenagers aged 14 to 18 find opportunities to spend their spare time doing good in the community.

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Lizzie Collinson, volunteering and marketing co-ordinator, said: “Beginning in late summer 2020, a group of motivated young people completed a variety of volunteer work. The teens contacted local charities who needed help due to the demand caused by the current pandemic.

Concordia Youth Action volunteers hard at work redecorating the community centre in Haywards HeathConcordia Youth Action volunteers hard at work redecorating the community centre in Haywards Heath
Concordia Youth Action volunteers hard at work redecorating the community centre in Haywards Heath

“In October, they picked litter in Horsham Park and helped renovate Highdown Gardens in Worthing. They also redecorated a community centre in Haywards Heath that is operated by Sussex Clubs for Young People.

“With the prospect of many people in the south east spending Christmas alone due to the government’s new tier four restrictions, they spent November making and writing cards for the elderly residents of Guild Care in Worthing.

“When December came, they collected food for the homeless for Worthing-based charity Turning Tides.”

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Young people from the group said they volunteered because it gave them something to do with their time, helped them to feel productive while helping out the local community and to give back to those who needed it.

Food collected for Worthing-based charity for Turning Tides by Concordia Youth ActionFood collected for Worthing-based charity for Turning Tides by Concordia Youth Action
Food collected for Worthing-based charity for Turning Tides by Concordia Youth Action

Max Bateman, who led the group for Concordia, said: “Turning Tides were so grateful for all Concordia and our young people have done. They truly have helped make so many people’s Christmases.”

In the new year, the group has been planning more volunteer work that can be done in a safe and socially-distanced way.

The Concordia Youth Action programme was launched by Concordia to offer local volunteering opportunities to young people, prompted by the decline in wider volunteering opportunities for young people as a direct result of the pandemic.

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The aim is to help young people to build the skills to strengthen their confidence for the future to enable them to become leaders in the future.

If you are aged 14-18 living in Sussex and want to join Concordia Youth Action, email Concordia at [email protected].

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