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Better opportunities for more young people.
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Macclesfield Charities Lead the Way in Collaborative Working
Just Drop-In along with other local charities have come together to provide City and Guilds Lifeskills training in a unique way.

Some young parents were finding it impossible to access training, so with the help of a Big Lottery, Awards for All grant, a group of charities provided transport, a crèche, materials and food. A year on, all 15 parents who enrolled have succeeded in earning a qualification. Ann Wright, Chief Officer, says "They have gained in confidence and become active community members with improved prospects of finding work."
One couple, Billy Blaikie and Zoe Wood (pictured with baby Logan), completed the course together. “We found out about the course from Just Drop-In, and have loved being involved. The training has been really interesting and useful and it has increased my confidence in finding work. It’s been hard at times with having a new baby but it was worth it.”
The students were presented with certificates at a celebration event on 13th February. Ann Wright believes this is just the beginning: "This prototype project has been so successful, Just Drop-In is looking for ways to access funding so that the charities involved can continue to work together."
More Power To The (Young) People 
Just Drop-In has been empowering young people beyond the Duke Street premises by working with a group of students studying for a Foundation degree in Public and Community Services at Macclesfield College. The group wanted to devise a fundraising project and turned to Just Drop-In. Volunteer Co-ordinator, Faye Ronan is also studying - funded through Just Drop-In - for a Masters degree in Youth & Community Work at Manchester Metropolitan University. She took the opportunity to develop her skills and help the lads put their ideas into action. 
Faye explains “The students managed to persuade Macclesfield Town Football Club to help raise money for Just Drop-In at the next Treacle Market.  They are organising activities including a penalty shoot-out and a ‘keepy-up’ competition. My role has been to keep them motivated, prepared and ready for the day.  They have shown real initiative and have the enthusiasm to make the event a success.”

The stall will be in St Michael's churchyard, Market Place on Sunday 29th March, 10am-3pm so do pop-in to say hello. There'll be prizes to be won, an appearance from Macc Town mascot, Rory the lion, and maybe even a player!
MP Praises Growing Counselling Service
When Macclesfield MP and Just Drop-In Patron David Rutley visited Duke Street recently, Chief Officer, Ann Wright and Chair of Trustees, Bruce Taylor outlined the huge increase in demand for counselling.

The number of young people accessing the service doubled over a 12 month period and continues to rise.  This pattern is being repeated elsewhere in the country.
It's attributed to a number of factors including long waiting lists to access services from other organisations, national publicity about young people’s mental health, as well as the growing reputation of Just Drop-In.

David Rutley praised the charity for taking steps to meet local needs in this area: “Just Drop-In does an excellent job supporting young people with emotional health difficulties and to have these services readily available. It is good to see such local services on offer in Macclesfield”.

Ann Wright Manager added “Our counsellors are phenomenal - providing thoughtful, high quality services for young people. They have developed strategies to improve attendance and now offer more out of hour’s appointments too; all of these things have contributed to the development of the service and the increase in demand and take up.”
Out With The Old, In With The New!
The Drop-In has been getting a makeover!  The years had taken their toll and we wanted to revamp the ground floor rooms to bring them more in line with the Just Drop-In 'brand' colours and style!  In the last newsletter we showcased our new promotional window vinyls.  Now take a look at what’s been going on behind...
A special thank you to those who have donated equipment, resources or time to help us transform the Drop-In: Forrest, UK Mats, Tailored Office Solutions and volunteers John Stephens, Tim Lightfoot, Simon Zeiss, Simon Bennison, Pete Lowe, Linda Hayward, Julia Tibbles, Leo and John Alcock, and Boyd Hassell plus lots of young people, friends and family members!
Funding
We'd like to thank CVS Cheshire East for £500 for anti-bullying work, Macclesfield Inner Wheel for a donation of £250.00, Gawsworth Methodist Church for a donation of £150.00, Spire Regency Hospital, Macclesfield raising £133.00 and The Church of England Diocese of Chester for a donation of £100.00.

We continue to acknowledge financial support from Cheshire East Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Big Lottery, Macclesfield Accommodation Care & Concern and Cheadle Royal Hospital Charitable Trust.
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