Left to right.
Rebecca one of the students, Katherine Greening. W. Bro William (Bill) Ryan and Arron a support worker. W. Bro Bill presenting a cheque for £522 from the closed Justice and Peace Lodge. The art work in the back ground is only some of the wonderful work the students create, but also put on a show at the end of the year in which they take part by acting, building scenery, signing or welcoming the visitors.
Katherine set up Anstee Bridge in 2008 and prior to this, she ran a course for vulnerable young people called Pathfinders at Kingston College.
She has a Masters in Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and a Diploma in Counselling and Attachment.
Katherine loves working with young people to grow and learn through creative projects, especially when glitter is involved!
Arron attends as he can during the week and helps the young students to exhibit themselves in music, by learning to play the guitar and singing to the rest of the group with some of the latest or not so latest songs either singerly or duo or more.
Anstee are lucky enough to have a number of amazing, dedicated volunteers. Several of them have been with Anstee for many years and have gone on to be trustees of our charity ‘Friends of Anstee Bridge’, which was established in December 2022.
This is the group that tries to raise money for the purchase of items for the students to draw on, cook and lots of other activities, to help adjust to the transition for junior to senior school which some find very difficult.
Anstee Bridge serves young individuals in Richmond and Kingston Boroughs, aged 11-16, who are struggling with their social, emotional, and mental health through the power of creativity. Across the boroughs they support about 80 local young people.
They learn Maths and English in a relaxed fun way, through cooking or other activities such as having to write the amount of screws, paint, paper, flour, how long it will take for the items to be completed, what will be the result at the end.
As they share the building with Stanley School and have over the summer moved to a new area within the school, they now have to walk from the office to the gate and unlock the padlock and relock every time a student or visitor attends. It would be a great help if an intercom and camera system along with electronic gate looking could be installed to save this journey. Yes, we have a festival coming up but remember we do look at supporting local charities as well.
The Anstee group would like to thank W. Bro Bill and the lodges that have supported his email earlier in the year, to help and hopes that as time allows further support will come forward.
