Hounslow Action for Youth Association (HAY) is a charity dedicated to helping vulnerable children and young people reach their full potential. It also aims to help the local community come together in a safe, caring environment.
So, why does HAY exist?
Since it was established in 1986, HAY has worked tirelessly to support the many children and young people in the London Borough of Hounslow who face big challenges in their lives.
Sadly Hounslow is fraught with social and economic disadvantage. In fact, using measures of income, employment, health, education, crime, barriers to housing and services, plus assessments of the living environment, the neighbourhood in which HAY operates is ranked within the 20% most deprived wards in the country, according to the Communities and Local Government Indices of Deprivation 2015.
For local young people, that means anti-social behaviour, crime, truancy, poor educational attainment, unemployment, gang culture, reliance on benefits, drug and alcohol abuse, family breakdown and teenage pregnancy are just some of the problems they are likely to encounter.
And, without the right support, many children and young people in Hounslow are at risk of heading down the wrong path in life.
How does HAY help?
HAY’s vision is to open new doors for children and young people showing them possibilities that they otherwise might not have imagined.
That’s why the charity works very closely with other organisations and agencies to develop programmes that support vulnerable young people – especially those at risk of being excluded from school, those taken into the care system or at risk of being sent to prison.
Based within the safe environment HAY offers a range of projects which supports children, young people and their families all the way from the toddler years right through to adulthood. They offer the opportunity for young people to learn new skills, develop confidence and make good friends.
And, wherever possible, these programmes strive to prevent children and young people getting into trouble or making bad choices in the first place. With the right practical and emotional support, they steer well clear from crime or anti-social behaviour and realise the great things they can achieve
From Monday to Sunday, HAY’s committed, dedicated and experienced staff work with children, young people and families to bring about positive changes in their lives. It’s why, when you walk through the doors, you enter a secure, lively, inclusive place where everyone is welcome and can find help for a far brighter future.