Since news broke that SHYPP (The Supported Housing for Young People Project) could be facing cuts of 66% from their funding, many have rallied around the Herefordshire organisation, to show unwaivering support.

SHYPP provides 16 - 25 year olds across Herefordshire with housing, training and employment opportunities. Last week, it was announced that Herefordshire Council could be cutting the funds to SHYPP by 66%.

SHYPP have warned that these cuts will signal the end of all support to young people struggling in their own tenancies, end support to young, vulnerable parents, and end any crisis intervention work taking place to help young people return home or find alternatives to being homeless.

A young man who was helped by SHYPP has spoken out about the proposed cuts that the organisation are currently facing.

Joel Robert Gretton, who is based in Hereford, but now works at a family-run pub in Symonds Yat, near Ross-on-Wye, spoke to the Ross Gazette about how his experience with SHYPP, and how the young person workers had changed his life for the better.

Joel explained that he was 18 when he first used the services on offer at SHYPP. He told the Gazette that he was hitting a self-destruct button, and was in a very dark place. “The whole team understood,” said Joel. “They knew my situation, and they got involved and made me really welcome. They were constantly full of advice, and they became a figure of wisdom and calm.”

“They’re there to make you go down the right path,” he continued. “I could have been dead without their support.”

He explained that, just by listening to him, giving him advice and support, providing him with opportunities and outlets, the Young Person Workers at SHYPP gave him a higher self-worth, and boosted his optimism, excitement and drive.

Joel said that the residents and workers at SHYPP became as tightly-knit as a family. He explained that while he has not used the services at SHYPP for more than six years, he and the other residents in the Foyer still all remain close friends, and as soon as they heard that the funding could be cut by two thirds, they came together to show their support for the organisation which had helped them all so much.

A video was made, featuring Joel and some other young people who had been helped by the organisation. The people in the video describe how much SHYPP helped them, to raise awareness for a cause all very close to their hearts. The video is online and can be seen here:

“I don’t know what they’re thinking, with the cut,” Joel said. “If anyone needs support, it’s the people that end up at the SHYPP.

“If [Herefordshire Council] make the cuts, who would they talk to?”

Joel said that he and the former residents of the Foyer have all gone on to do good things. He said that they have good jobs, some are married, have kids, and they’ve turned their lives around, something Joel firmly accredits to SHYPP.

He explained that while he was involved with SHYPP, the budgets and resources were limited even then, but the Young Person Workers made it work. He said he enjoyed taking part in the fundraising activities, as it brought the young residents closer together, but he said that further cuts to whatever budget is remaining would be detrimental to the service.

“They were the people there for me in the darkest times of my years. I can’t stress enough how needed it is,” he said.

Another person who was involved with SHYPP years ago, but has stepped forward to show support since the potential cuts were announced, was Catherine Collis, who ran SHYPP. She stepped down two years ago, and she contacted the Ross Gazette, to talk about how vital the service is.

She said: “Your support is needed for the hundreds of young people who receive help each year which both saves and transforms the lives of our young people in Herefordshire. We want our 16 – 25 year olds to thrive for the benefit of our communities and also to save money for the council by preventing costs further down the line.

“We currently have three weeks to gather public support and campaign against these cuts, and have created an online petition which we will present to the key Councillor responsible for housing.”

The petition, which went live last week, has already got more than 1,500 signatures. If you would like to sign, click here.

Catherine added: “We also will be running a social media campaign, so if Facebook or Twitter is your thing, please do like the SHYPP page, or re-tweet us and encourage others to do likewise #supportshypp.”