Bee-Leaf Project Learning Group CIC have recently launched our new and innovative service - REACT. REACT is designed to support young people and families in East Sussex who are experiencing crisis, disadvantage, involvement in the criminal justice system and / or who are at risk in the community. There is a real lack of service in East Sussex for young people and families facing the risk of exploitation and extra familial harm, yet these are also areas of harm that are sadly growing. REACT want to challenge this and provide the much needed missing service.

REACT believe passionately in supporting young people and their families in the way they need, not in the way services dictate. We respond directly to what people really need, when they need it, working in a needs-led, responsive and holistic way. REACT combines assessment and intervention / support to really help families address the challenges they are facing in their lives in a way that aims to provide an enduring and long term resolution and empowers a safer and more positive future. The support we provide will range from practical day to day support, to more tailored interventions and/or services such as respite.

REACT works directly with young people who are at risk in the community - focusing on the 5 core elements of our ethos; Relationships, Education, Advocacy, a Contextual lens and Time. We will provide a combination of diversionary activities, safety planning and therapeutic interventions tailored individually to each young person, their lives and their wider environment. We believe in our young people and strive to support them emotionally, practically and financially so they are able to believe in themselves and build on their skills and interests. Too often society's young people are told what they are doing wrong - they need to be told what they are doing right! We also believe in the importance of family and in strengthening family units, thus we will provide holistic interventions and support to the families of the young people we support, helping them to explore and address challenges and areas of harm such as poverty, deprivation, mental health difficulties, substance use and domestic abuse.

REACT is a charitable / community interest project and will be run with no cost to the young people and families we support. We therefore need to raise funds to help us deliver our service. All funds raised will go directly towards the service we provide, covering things like diversionary activities, life skills such as training courses, and driving lessons, ensuring families basic needs such as food, clothing and utilities are met and some staffing costs.

We held our first fundraising day in September 2022 where we raised an amazing £1400 towards our total goal. A huge thanks to everyone who helped us out and donated on the day. We would really appreciate any other donations that people may wish to make - however small - to assist us in the running of our project and much needed day to day funds.

The REACT Team