“We’re temporarily closed due to the coronavirus lockdown, and it says much for the value of what we do that the men we work with are missing us so much.

These are men who are often marginalised within society. Some have literacy problems and, for others, English is not their first language. Others have gone down the wrong pathway and offended or got in with the wrong crowd.

We provide a safe haven, a place where they can learn new skills and develop good relationships. And we’ve had quite a few success stories. One young guy was in our kitchen department for 19 weeks, and he's now a sous chef at a local hotel. Another young man went on to set up his own power-washing business after he completed a plumbing course with us.

For guys like this, the money you donate can go a long way towards helping them through the current crisis we are all facing. We can use it to provide much-needed practical things like credit for gas or electricity. Even things like food hampers can make a big difference, because a lot of the guys we work with are young, single men living on Universal Credit.

In supporting our appeal for some of the most vulnerable people, children and families in our communities, people are also showing empathy, and for the people we support, that also means so much at this time. So thank you to everyone who has supported our appeal. Every amount, large or small, is making a difference.”

Based in Derry-Londonderry, this cross-border good relations project is supported through €1.8m of funding from the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (www.seupb.eu).

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