Stepping into history to create a future!

Guildford YMCA, The Matrix Trust and Chapter 1 had the good fortune to hold a reception at the Speaker's Rooms at the Palace of Westminster - thanks to our MP, Anne Milton.

Wow! What an amazing historical place in which to pitch to the great and good of Surrey for the benefit of young people, the future of Surrey. Dr Helen Bowcock drew on significant research to demonstrate that many parts of Guildford lay hidden beneath the veneer of prosperity - to be poor in Guildford is demonstrably harder than being poor in Manchester.

3 young people told their story; from a 28 year old woman who, after serious drug taking was beginning to get her life back, and hopefully her three children too; to a young 16 year old who has hopefully started to make the right decisions much earlier; to a young man who, along with 300 other young people, gave up a weekend in order to blitz a part of Guildford. Finally Jon Pickerill presented a powerful poem depicting the journey of so many young people who receive support from the three chairities experience. Finally Anne Milton MP challenged Guildford to "prefer to be known for what we give away, rather than for what we have!".

A 'once in a lifetime' evening I think.