Supporting Stripey Stork’s Teen-to-Teen project
We’ve very pleased to have supported Stripey Stork with a £5,000 grant from our Brighter Community Fund towards its Teen-to-Teen project, which has helped hundreds of teenagers across Reigate and Banstead access essential clothing, toiletries and volunteering opportunities. This funding unlocked a further £5,000 in match funding from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s Thriving Communities Fund.
The Teen-to-Teen project is designed by and for young people aged 11 to 18, with volunteers packing and preparing essential items for other teenagers experiencing hardship in their local area.
As a result of the funding, Stripey Stork provided 139 clothing and overnight packs for teenagers, alongside toiletries for a further 271 young people across the borough. Packs included new underwear, socks, hoodies, joggers and essential hygiene items, which are often in short supply but in high demand, particularly during the winter months.
The project also supported young people living in Raven homes, with 59 teenagers referred directly from us, alongside others supported through schools and partner organisations.
In addition to providing practical support, Teen-to-Teen created meaningful volunteering opportunities for local young people. A total of 54 teenagers volunteered on the project, contributing over 560 hours helping to sort, pack and personalise items for their peers.
Volunteers were recruited through local schools, further education colleges and Duke of Edinburgh programmes, helping them to develop confidence, empathy and practical skills while responding to need in their own communities.
Stripey Stork also saw its wider volunteer team recognised at the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Volunteers Awards, where the group supporting Teen-to-Teen volunteers received a Team Volunteer Award.
Nicola Dawes, Chief Executive at Stripey Stork, said: “Teenagers are often the forgotten group when families are struggling, yet the need for essentials such as clothing and toiletries is significant. This funding has enabled us to provide practical support to hundreds of local young people, while also creating opportunities for teenagers to support one another through volunteering. We are grateful to Raven Housing Trust and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council for backing a project that has been shaped by young people, for young people.”
Angela Ellis, Head of Thriving Communities at Raven Housing Trust, said: “Through our Brighter Community Fund, we aim to support local projects that make a real difference to the lives of people in the communities we serve. The Teen to Teen project is a great example of young people helping other young people, providing practical support while building skills and confidence at the same time.”
Our Brighter Community Fund supports grassroots projects that strengthen communities and improve wellbeing across our neighbourhoods.