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Cooper Associates Foundation is thrilled to have made a donation of £12,000 to PROMISEworks, a local charity making a big difference in Somerset by offering mentoring services to disadvantaged children across the county.

This is the largest donation made by our Foundation since it was launched and will allow PROMISEworks to train and support six new mentors, to be known as The Cooper’s Cohort.

Christell Charles, Caseholder at PROMISEworks, said:

“In Taunton and the surrounding area, PROMISEworks has 50 young people on our waiting list for mentors. The pandemic has led to lengthened waiting times for those referred to us, as well as a 40% increase in the number of referrals. The pandemic and its consequences have greatly increased stress and anxiety for our vulnerable young people. The Cooper Associates Foundation donation will bring us more mentors, involving local volunteers, and help support some of our Taunton residents who feel lonely, anxious and feel the weight of the world on their shoulders.”

Victoria Tremear, Trustee of Cooper Associates Foundation, said:

“The Cooper Associates Foundation is delighted to be able to support PROMISEworks with a donation of £12,000. PROMISEworks are doing amazing work within our local communities, providing essential support to vulnerable young people through one-to-one mentoring. We are thrilled that our donation will be used to train ‘The Cooper’s Cohort’ of six mentors, so they are equipped to support the young people they are working with.”

PROMISEworks recruits, trains and supports volunteers, to provide one-to-one mentoring to improve the mental health and well-being of some of Somerset’s most vulnerable young people, aged from 5 to 25.

It receives referrals from schools, other professionals, and voluntary groups, and for a variety of reasons: abuse or neglect; mental or physical health problems; families where parental struggles are impacting on well-being.

Through a long-term, trusting relationship with an adult, a young person can develop resilience, self-esteem, and emotional well-being to help each “build a life that works”. The PROMISE is for the mentor to remain alongside the young person for at least 2 years, becoming a source of support that has been missing in a turbulent life. The young people learn to trust their mentor, something many find difficult having often faced abuse or neglect from those closest to them.

105 young people across Somerset currently have a PROMISEworks mentor. However, the COVID crisis has worsened outcomes for many vulnerable families, and PROMISEworks has had double the normal rate of referrals leaving it with a waiting list of around 200.

It costs PROMISEworks £2,000 a year to support a mentor to help a vulnerable young person.

If you have a charity that is looking for funding we would be delighted to hear from you. Visit the Cooper Associates Foundation for more information.

Pictured from left to right are Tom Abell (Captain of Somerset County Cricket Club and a Trustee of Cooper Associates Foundation), Christell Charles and Robert Peto from PROMISEworks and Victoria Tremear, Trustee of Cooper Associates Foundation.