The Chayah Summer Holiday Club HAF

OPENING — “BREATHING LIFE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES” Chayah means Life Restorer — and that’s exactly what we do. We are Grassroots charity shaped by lived experience. Standing with Nottingham’s most disadvantaged communities for over a decade. Restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope where systems have failed. OUR REALITY — THE CHALLENGES WE FACE Young people growing up in poverty, violence, and exclusion. Families navigating racism, school exclusion, criminalisation, and social care involvement. Elderly residents isolated, vulnerable, and struggling with food insecurity. Communities carrying the weight of systemic inequality — but still full of strength and potential. OUR APPROACH — COMMUNITY FIRST, ALWAYS We are led by the community, from the community, for the community. Staff and volunteers with lived experience build trust where others can’t. We meet people where they are — on the streets, in schools, at home, or at the roadside. No judgement. No barriers. No one turned away. WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE — REDUCING EXCLUSION & HARM Supporting young people at risk of exclusion, exploitation, or criminalisation. Helping them exit unsafe lifestyles and build new pathways. Early intervention in schools to prevent violence and disengagement. Mentoring that raises aspirations, builds confidence, and restores identity. Programmes like Boyz2Men, Reach, Sisters in Arms, and Crossing Boundaries changing lives every day. “We help young people move from ‘something’ to ‘someone’.” SUPPORTING FAMILIES — CULTURALLY COMPETENT, TRAUMA‑INFORMED Safe spaces for families facing crisis, stigma, or bereavement. Advocacy for those navigating education, policing, and social care systems. Practical help, emotional support, and long‑term guidance. Co‑designed programmes shaped by the people who use them. “We place the rights and needs of our service users at the forefront.” FOOD AS CONNECTION — OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN Weekly hot meals for elderly and vulnerable residents. Food parcels for families in crisis. Culturally appropriate meals that honour identity and dignity. Food as a tool for connection, healing, and intergenerational support. “We provided over 120 hot meals per week plus food parcels for over 50 families.” OUR IMPACT — REAL CHANGE, REAL LIVES Thousands of meals delivered during COVID and beyond. Hundreds of young people supported every year to stay safe, educated, and hopeful. Strong partnerships with schools, police, probation, VRU, and community groups. A trusted anchor organisation at the heart of Nottingham’s communities. “We are a dynamic, creative, responsive, community‑led organisation.” OUR HOME — EDWARDS LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE A hub for inclusion, resilience, and opportunity. A space for mentoring, training, workshops, and community food services. A place where people feel seen, valued, and supported. OUR BELIEF — THOSE CLOSEST TO THE CHALLENGE HOLD THE SOLUTION We recruit from within the community. We prioritise cultural competence and authentic relationships. Our trustees bring expertise in youth work, education, justice reform, and community organising. Together, we build solutions that last. OUR MISSION — ENGAGE. EQUIP. EMPOWER. Engage with compassion and honesty. Equip with skills, confidence, and opportunity. Empower individuals and families to thrive, not just survive. “We aim to leave a legacy for the next generation.”