Safe + Sorted will be starring as one of the projects on the current series of Channel 4’s ‘The Secret Millionaire’. The episode, also featuring the YMCA's Environment Project and the Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project, will be aired on Sunday 14th November 2010 at 9pm.
Safe + Sorted
Filming took place earlier this year in April at Safe + Sorted, a project run by Sussex Central YMCA in the East of Brighton. The team at Safe + Sorted had a hectic few weeks accommodating the film crew whilst keeping the project running as normally and smoothly as possible, which at times was a bit of a juggling act.
Lucy & Niki
Niki Eldridge, Manager of the project says “it was a worthwhile and humbling experience – in part because of the generosity of Bradley Reback (the now not-so-secret-millionaire), but also as a celebration of the work we do and of the amazing things that our young people achieve against all the odds”.
The documentary captures only a snapshot of the vast work Safe + Sorted do in Brighton and the amount of positive change they achieve. Each year they deliver almost 9,000 services to young people, giving advice on education, training and employment, homelessness, substance misuse, mental and physical health, relationship issues, and sexual health. Last year they carried out 36 suicide interventions, supported 73 people into work and training, prevented 50 young people becoming homeless and placed 43 young women on longer acting reversible contraception.
JordanJordan, one of the service users, received support from the workers at Safe + Sorted when she and her mum became homeless and also when she was being bullied at school “Safe + Sorted helped me when I was bullied and not in school for ages as I was signed off for anxiety and panic attacks, they even talked through poems with me before my English GCSE! Safe+ Sorted helped to motivate me to get back into education.”
When asked about the programme Niki says “Ultimately the most important thing is for us is to be able to continue supporting the most vulnerable people in our society and Bradley’s donation has enabled us to keep doing this. There is a great deal of publicity about the pressures facing us all during this difficult economic period and this amazing experience provided us with a much needed relief as we wait to feel the true impact of the cuts. And despite the fact that cheques are virtually obsolete (except to Grandmas and Millionaires) – words can’t really express our gratitude.”
The work of Safe + Sorted doesn’t stop when the cameras leave, the project still needs your support. If you would like to help the work of Safe + Sorted by donating then click here.
For more information about the project click here.
