MAHDLO Youth Zone has supported around 2,000 young people and their families in their own homes during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Throughout the global crisis Mahdlo has provided remote support through online interactions and phone calls as well as home visits to support vulnerable young people and families.

The Youth Zone’s delivery team has led more than 100 Zoom sessions to its members giving young people access to engaging activities and a vital line of support in the form of a youth worker. As a result Mahdlo has had 4,000 meaningful contacts with young people throughout the months of lockdown.

In addition to online sessions and social media content, since June, Mahdlo has run 450 outreach visits to members and their families in their homes, and to areas where young people began to gather following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Mahdlo’s Community Outreach programme has delivered activity and food packs to families, allowed the team to follow up with young people in need of further support, and provided a much needed familiar face to groups of young people getting used to our new normal.

During lockdown, Mahdlo has established that more than 300 members contact details are out of date. They are appealing for any members who have not heard from a member of their youth work team to get in touch, and make sure they are getting all the help and support they may require.

Lucy Lees, deputy chief executive at Mahdlo Youth Zone, said: “At the start of the coronavirus crisis, we pivoted our delivery model to ensure local youngsters could still gain vital access to trusted, professional youth workers remotely.

“As lockdown lifted we continued to adapt our offer around what would be the best thing for our young people. Whether that be sending our team out to local parks to engage with young members of our community, or visiting individual members to offer bespoke support.

“Youth services are an essential part of helping a generation of young people that stand to be hit hardest by the economic, social, health and mental wellbeing implications of the crisis for many years to come.

“Achieving this whilst protecting the health and wellbeing of young people, employees, volunteers and the wider community is our primary focus. We will not cut corners when it comes to delivering the best for our young people. We will not give up on supporting our community in any way we can.

“I encourage all our members, and their parents, to get in touch with us if they have not heard from us. We want to make sure we are there for those that need us most, and we need everyone’s help to do so.”

Members can get in touch with Mahdlo to update their contact details by emailing youthworkeronline@mahdloyz.org