Chiswick councillor Amy Croft raises more than £8,500 for charity during her time as Mayor

Accepting a fundraising cheque for HYCS, Seth Ashby-Hawkins – HYCS’ Youth Ambassador, Maria David – HYCS’ Service Manager, Gill Young – HYCS Senior Counsellor with former Mayor Councillor Amy Croft

Hounslow’s Youth Counselling Service and Hogarth Youth and Community Centre each receive more than four thousand pounds

Chiswick councillor Amy Croft raised more than eight and a half thousand pounds for Hounslow’s Youth Counselling Service and the Hogarth Youth and Community Centre during her time as Mayor.

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Not only that, but by choosing HYCS as one of her charities during her stint as Mayor last year she raised awareness of the growing need for youth mental health services within the borough, the charity said.

HYCS provides free, confidential counselling and emotional wellbeing support to young people aged 11–25 across the London Borough of Hounslow.

Amy chose HYCS and the Hogarth Youth & Community Centre in Chiswick as her two charities. She raised £4,391 for the counselling service and £4,141 for the youth centre.

“It has been amazing to learn more about these two amazing charities over the last year”, she told The Chiswick Calendar, “and I am really pleased to have been able to raise not only some funds but also awareness of the amazing work they do.

“HYCS support young people struggling with their mental health and are truly life changing for many of the 600 or so young people they see each year.

“Hogarth Youth and Community Centre provide vital activities and a safe space for young people. They have a full programme of activities starting from next week for four weeks, open to all young people so please have a look on their website for details”.

hogarthtrust.org.uk

Amy (L) At the annual Isleworth Lions and Royal Oak charity duck race, which raised over £2,000 for charity; (R) with the organisers of the UK’s first open sock wrestling competition 

HYCS work is “truly life changing for some and life saving for others”

At a special cheque presentation, Cllr Croft presented HYCS with £4,391.44, raised through a programme of fundraising events and community activities.

As well as delivering counselling to more than 600 young people, over the past year HYCS has offered 6,265 supportive sessions across its main centre, eight secondary schools, Feltham Young Offender Institution and targeted outreach audiences such as care leavers and the Youth Justice Service.

Receiving the cheque, Service Manager for HYCS Maria David commented:

‘‘We are incredibly grateful to former Mayor Amy Croft for choosing HYCS as one of her mayoral charities and for her enthusiasm, commitment and support throughout the year. The funds raised will make a real difference to the lives of young people in Hounslow, while the awareness generated has helped spotlight the importance of youth mental health and the work we do every day.

“On behalf of everyone at HYCS, I would like to thank the mayor and everyone who supported the fundraising events so generously. Together, you have helped ensure that more young people in Hounslow can access the emotional support they need, when they need it most”.

In reply Amy responded:

‘‘It has been an absolute privilege to support HYCS during my mayoral year. I have seen first-hand the incredible work the charity does to provide young people with a safe space to talk and the support they need to improve their mental wellbeing.

“The work they do is truly life changing for some and life saving for others, and I feel incredibly lucky that we have HYCS, for our young people.

“I would like to thank everyone who attended events, donated and helped raise this fantastic amount. I know the money will make a meaningful difference to young people across Hounslow.”