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Babbasa launch fundraising appeal to address youth unemployment crisis
Babbasa, a leading youth empowerment organisation based in St Paul’s, is launching CloseTheGap, a fundraising appeal to address the worsening youth unemployment crisis.
In Bristol alone, nearly 10,000 young people are currently not in education, employment, or training – risking a future of lost potential.
This is reflective of a national trend with youth unemployment at its highest across the UK since 1992, with almost one million young people neither earning nor in full-time education.
is needed now More than ever
Those from disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk of being left behind.
The three wards with the highest level of youth unemployment in Bristol are Hartcliffe and Withywood with 71; Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston with 70; and Filwood with 53.
Funds raised will enable Babbasa to continue delivering their Youth Empowerment Programmes, offering skills training, professional one-to-one mentorship and free-of-charge employability support to young people during challenging times.
Through this work with the disadvantaged young people of Bristol, Babbasa continues to work towards the long term collaborative OurCity2030 vision of supporting 2,030 young people into meaningful careers by 2030.
Sixty per cent of the city’s ethnic minority population live in areas of economic disadvantage and two-thirds of these in Bristol’s most disadvantaged inner-city wards.
Hava Ibraim, a Babbasa support programme participant, says: “Growing up in Bristol, I felt it was a diverse city but there are still barriers and stereotypes which have prevented me and my friends from progressing.
“With Babbasa’s help, I have gained the confidence to pursue my interests through education and build a clearer plan for my future.
“Their one-to-one support and understanding of young people’s circumstances helped me view education and work as positive things which are open to me.”
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Sangeetha Wynter, head of services, Babbasa, says: “Young people in our city are facing a crisis which demands urgent action.
“Too many are being locked out of opportunity through no fault of their own – especially those from disadvantaged communities.
“At Babbasa, we see the potential in every young person, but we urgently need more support to help them realise it.”
According to Babbasa founder Poku Osei, in more than 13 years the organisation has managed to support more than 4,300 of Bristol’s youth to overcome barriers to accessing meaningful work.
If you wish to donate, there head to localgiving.org.
Organisations interested in fundraising and partnerships are also encouraged to contact Babbasa to discuss options.
All photos: Babbasa
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