IMPACT – Making a Difference

	Overview Impact is a Christian youth work registered charity. It was founded in Christchurch in 2006 by Ruth Egan and Rev Mike Yates who are qualified and experienced youth workers. The aim of the project is to connect with the young people in the community who are finding life tough, and subsequently seeking escape in illegal activities and anti-social behaviour. Having seen notable success in Christchurch, in 2008 Purbeck District Council asked Impact to replicate it’s project in Swanage. Since then Impact has also established itself in Poole and Weymouth and is working hard to add a new dimension to the existing efforts in that area. The Need Having worked in Dorset for a number of years, Impact recognises that there are young people in the area that struggle. They can feel marginalised in communities with aging populations. Affluent surroundings can mask poverty issues which can be heightened by family issues and breakdown. All of these things can provide an environment of low self esteem and self worth creating a degenerative cycle leading to alcohol and substance abuse, anti social behaviour and gang culture.
3 Peaks Sponsored Challenge	Reaching high to raise money for Impact A team from Impact will be attempting to climbs the highest mountain in Soctland, England and Wales all 3 in 24 hours. The team will start the challenge on the 23rd June. For more info go to IMPACT 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE PAGE
	Local company oils the cogs of the IMPACT Bike Project . Muc Off based in Poole has kindly provided the IMPACT Bike Project with a huge amount of Bike cleaning, maintanence and lubricating products. Impact would like to say a massive “Thank you” to them for helping to keep this much needed project going. Impact’s Bike Projects help young people build self esteem, intoroduces them to positive role models and provides them with access to trained youth workers who can help them address issues such as family breakdown and drug/alcohol misuse, whilst learning about bicycle maintenance and making their own bikes safe to use.
	Support IMPACT on ebay. You can now declutter and support the work of Impact. After you have chosen the starting price for your auction Ebay gives you the opportunity to give to your favourite charity. Simply search for Impact in Ebay’s database and select how much you’d like to donate. Thank you for supporting Impact
Weymouth Impact	Impact project starts in Weymouth Impact has been granted funding by Weymouth and Portland District Council and Dorset Community Safety Partnership to develop a Street based team in Weymouth. Experienced members of the Impact team have been out on the streets of Weymouth since the begining of August. We are also delighted to be working alongside the Street Pastors team based in the town. Impact is now making a difference to the lives of young people in Christchurch, Swanage and Weymouth. We hope to start a new project in Poole towards the end of 2011. If you are interested in knowing more about Impact in Weymouth, becoming a member of the team, or supporting the work of Impact please email us info@impactmakingadifference.co.uk
Keep up with the latest news	Receive Regular Updates from Impact If you would like to receive Impact’s quarterly newsletter and other updates then please send the message ‘SIGN ME UP’ to friendsofimpact@gmail.com.