Our Impact
We can demonstrate our impact and EVIDENCE THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE TO THE LIVES OF LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE. EACH YEAR WE CARRY OUT A STAKEHOLDER SURVEY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE WIDER LOCAL COMMUNITY.
Here are some of the Highlights from our 2022 Survey:
We have helped reduce loneliness and social isolation
o over 63% of young people come to Thirst ‘to meet and friends’
o 51% come because it’s ‘welcoming & friendly’
o 85% ‘feel with friends’ at Thirst
“I’m less lonely and have friends who accept me for who I am”
‘I never feel lonely at Thirst’
“I love coming to Thirst to meet up with friends ”
We know that we help increase self-confidence and self-esteem by providing safe spaces and opportunities such as our youth volunteer programme
o 88% of young people tell us they feel ‘confident’, ‘included’ and ‘heard’
“I’m more self-confident and not socially awkward anymore”
“I’m now happy to express my opinions, even if others might not agree with them”
“Before coming to Thirst I was real nervous and not very confident, but since I’ve joined the volunteer scheme my confidence has gone up by 10 million per cent!””
And we are proud to improve happiness, wellbeing and mental health by providing fun activities in a safe, stimulating environment, with professional support as required.
o 95% of young people feel ‘happy’, ‘safe’, ‘relaxed’ at Thirst
“I can just be myself and chill here”
“I have fun at Thirst”
“ I feel excited every time I go to Thirst”
“It’s good to have grown ups to talk to – I can ask for advice and help when I need it”
Young people and their families have told us that we have helped improve life and social skills and develop potential through fun activities, positive relationships, mentoring and training.
o 60% of parents / carers in our 2022 survey said their young person ‘has learnt new skills’
“It’s a great place to volunteer as I’m learning new skills and stuff for later life”
“70% of parents/carers agree ‘my young person is happier’”
We have helped increase independence as young people transition to adulthood
o 80% of parents/carers agree ‘my young person has become more independent’
“Volunteering at Thirst has really helped my confidence and made me more independent”
“It’s a safe space for my son to meet his friends, make new friends and be independent”
50% of young people told us that they would ‘stay at home’ if they didn’t come to Thirst.
27% would ‘walk around town’ - “I don’t have anywhere else to go”
“97% of young people agree Thirst is ‘a safe place for young people in Bishops Stortford’”
We are proud to make a difference to the lives of local young people and to support our work please click here to DONATE
AquaSplash - August 2022