Sadly due to Covid-19, Hope for the Young's Annual Walk can no longer go ahead and we've been thinking long and hard how to replicate this wonderful occasion in the safest way possible.

We are therefore excited to announce Hope for the Youngs First Team Challenge Event!

This year, from the 1st to the 31st October we are asking our amazing supporters to take part in a challenge on their own, or in a team of up to 6 people, to try and raise £10,000 in aid of Hope for the Young.

The theme this year is #DistanceTravelled

The young people we work with have travelled thousands of miles from their homes to reach safety in the UK, often on their own.

Based on an average distance of our young people's journeys including; Eritrea (4,999 miles), Afghanistan (4,676 miles), Iran (3,410 miles), Syria (2,829 miles), Vietnam (5,734 miles) and many others, we are aiming to reach a combined distance of 4000 miles throughout the month of October.

We cannot imagine what it must feel like to leave everything behind and to risk your life crossing dangerous oceans and deserts in overcrowded lorries and dinghies simply with the hope of a better life away from fear and persecution.

But we can help to shape what opportunities are available when young people arrive.

Our Grants and Advocacy Programme provides financial support and tailored advocacy to help young people access and succeed in education whilst they are in limbo, waiting years for a decision on their asylum claim. However, sadly due to limited funds we can only support a fraction of those in need of our services.

Whether our amazing supporters can reach 1 mile, 10 miles or 100 miles, every mile they complete and every penny you donate to support them will go directly to helping refugees access education and rebuild their lives.

Thank you so much for your support.

Read more about Hope for the Young below ...

The young people Hope for the Young supports are fleeing war, persecution and bereavement. Many have experienced traumatic events that make it hard to cope with day-to-day life. Due to Covid-19, it is now even more difficult for them to access the services they need.

Despite the complex challenges young refugees and asylum-seekers have faced, it is education that remains their primary focus. Learning new skills and knowledge provides the hope of a better life and future prospects for them and their families. However, many young people wishing to return to education encounter a series of obstacles when trying to enrol.

Those seeking safety in the UK are currently categorised as international students and must pay international student fees that can range between £8,000 - £28,000 per year. Those over 18 are not entitled to work and are provided a basic allowance of £37.75 to live off per week. Education, therefore, is inaccessible to those who often have to wait many years for a decision on their asylum claim (6 years is the average length of time those we support have been in the UK before contacting us).

Living in limbo, unable to work, study, or plan for your future can have devastating consequences. Mental health deteriorates and many young people become isolated and disengaged as they struggle to access the education, care, and support they need.

This is where Hope for the Young steps in.

Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young people's education and well-being by providing small grants for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses, alongside tailored advocacy support to young people throughout their course. Last year, Hope for the Young supported 25 young people into courses such as Biomedical Science, Marketing, and Engineering, to Social Work, Law and Medicine!

To try and support more young people next year, we are hoping to raise £10,000 by asking our incredible supporters to join us in reaching a combined distance of 4000 miles throughout the month of October (the average distance of a young person's journey to the UK).

Your donation will go directly towards helping more young people access the education they deserve. Thank you so much for your support.