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"Ever since I was young my dad always suffered with a drinking issue. It’s not until I got older that I realised it was also affecting my life. His drinking became worse when I joined sixth form, which is when it began affecting my day to day life. I was turning up to school exhausted, not just physically but emotionally. This was having an effect on my school work and learning. I knew it was no longer something I could handle on my own and I had to talk to somebody, but I didn’t know who to reach out to. I spoke to my school and shortly they got me in contact with The Matthew Project. I felt very nervous to talk to somebody at the Matthew Project as I was always very apprehensive to tell people about my home life due to fear of judgement. However, as soon as I met Sharon I felt instantly put at ease and she felt like a friend that I could talk to about anything. Sharon helped me to cope with the issues not only going on at home but also the stresses of sixth form. Even when I didn’t want to talk about what was going on at home, she would always listen to anything I had to say and would always give me positive advice. Throughout my 2 years with Sharon I have managed to cope with my dad’s drinking so much better and he is now receiving help and has quit drinking. I finished sixth form and now I’m at university and I don’t think I would’ve reached this point if I hadn’t received help. I am so grateful for the Matthew Project but specifically for Sharon who always helped me over every hurdle I came across" Do you feel like your worried about a family members drug/alcohol use? If so click the button below to find out more on how we can help support you.

Our YouCan summer programme has now come to an end and what a summer it’s been! This year, 19 young people joined us in person for activities, and 33 chose to get creative with at-home activity packs. Together, we’ve learnt new skills, explored new places, and built memories through nine incredible activities. Week One We kicked off with Pizza Making and a Movie in King’s Lynn, where young people cooked up their own delicious creations before relaxing together with a film. Later in the week, we travelled to Norwich Castle. Rosalind, Learning and Engagement Officer, guided us through the art gallery and the Colin Self exhibition. Inspired, the young people created their own artwork, before exploring the museum and even trying on armour! To top off the day, everyone went home with a special goody bag including a quill pen, bouncy ball, and a family pass to Norfolk County Council museums.   Week Two Our next stop was Shallowbrook Lakes in Costessey, where young people learnt how to fish. For some, this was a first-time experience and while there were some nerves around handling maggots, by the end, everyone felt confident. Best of all, every single young person caught a fish and proudly took home a medal that read “I caught a fish!” We also enjoyed a day of rock pooling at West Runton. With bingo sheets in hand, the group searched for sea creatures hidden among the rocks. A huge crab was caught by one of the young people, it caused plenty of excitement!   Week Three In the third week, we headed to Sandringham on one of the hottest days of the summer. To stay cool, we walked through the forest on a scavenger hunt, searching for animal trails, webs, and mushrooms (although a fish on the list proved impossible to find in the woods!) We then went on the adventure playground and then we cooled off with ice cream. Later that week, we ran an art session, where young people worked together on a large piece for our counselling room after we received feedback from young people that the room needed updating. Their artwork will brighten the space and make it feel more welcoming for young people. Week Four A big highlight came with our visit to Watatunga Wildlife Reserve. We travelled by trailer with a guide, spotting buffalo, wildebeest, deer, and a wide range of birds. The day ended with an educational talk and even the chance to hold antlers! Back in Norwich, our hospitality lead, Steven, ran a Pizza Making session. From dough to toppings, young people created pizzas entirely from scratch, with plenty to take home and share with their families. Week Five We ended the summer with something completely different, a Krav Maga self-defence session. Young people learnt practical skills for protecting themselves, building confidence and resilience. A huge thank you to every child and young person who joined us this summer, and to our brilliant YouCan team who worked so hard to make it all possible. We’re already busy planning for October half term, and we can’t wait to see what memories we’ll create next! Thanks, Josie & Léa