The poverty of experience

It's been an odd week because so many people are away for the school holidays which this year precede Easter, and I took a rare day off in the mid week to be off the scene for the interviews for my successor as CEO. I understand it all went very well, but I think a forthcoming announcement needs to be made by the Chairman, not me...though I am biting my tongue/ holding back the digit! Next Friday.

The day off was interesting - visiting a major Food Bank in West Sussex, and seeing the scale...of the warehouse...like  a small supermarket. Just for the record the maximum supply of food that anyone can receive from a Trusserl Trust Food Bank is 3 days supply on 3 occasions in any 6 month period. So just a total of 9 days food over 6 months.It is real and much needed crisis support for very needy people, not propping up the feckless.

The main focus for me has been starting to write the "Young Surrey: Strategic Review 2014-15". This will be the second such report addressing the strategic context within which the voluntary youth sector is operating and identifying the issues affecting young people. As ever the early work shows the typical Surrey mixture of high achieving, low unemployment very successful, contrasted with rapid increase in mental health issues amongst young people, and sheer poverty. Amazingly some 12,000 young people in school, out of the total of 146,000 (8%) are receiving Free School Meals, being the leading indicator of poverty.The research by the Community Foundation for Surrey - "Surrey Uncovered" suggest that some 27,000 children and young people aged under 19 are living in poverty. 

The big themes of the Strategic Review will be: the blending of the sectors (private, public,charity) , the different values of this Generation (sometimes called C for connected) about which I'm talking at a future Chamber of Commerce meeting, and the issues of poverty, mental health. As regards the health issues we will be launching a survey of young people's views/experiences shortly, though the results will be too late for the Review which we're publishing in early May. 

Grandchildren for the week- end (THE greatest joy) and back to work for a rest on Tuesday!!

Mike