Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

However, due to coronavirus, it now has had to temporary close its workshops and drop-in hub and focus on getting much needed support out into the community by offering online advice, sexual health guidance and various postal kits.

Lee Dunn, the charity’s trustee, said: “The trust has had to do a complete U-turn from what was going to be a exciting and activity packed 10th year, to one of reviewing where and how we could best support youth in our local area during the Covid-19 lockdown period.”

“Our charity was quickly inundated with online messages from young people who were becoming very anxious about the uncertainty caused by the lockdown and how it was affecting their schooling and college work. We also found many young people had started to suffer with increased mental health issues.

Pit Stop Youth Trust SUS-200518-094136001

“We decided we needed to act quickly to try and relieve some of this anxiety by asking local organisations for extra financial support so we could put together an emergency support program.

“We are so very grateful to a number of organisations for coming together with their ‘fast response donations’ to support us in our hour of need. Bexhill Lions, Hastings Direct and Sussex Police, have all helped towards the start-up costs of providing our emergency Covid-19 activities packs. However, we are still desperately seeking more donations towards this ongoing program of support.”

Each emergency pack varies depending on the young person’s needs. We cover ages from 6 to 26 years old, so some packs contain fun activities to make over the lockdown period, and other packs offer a health and well being kit that works hand in hand with the charity’s online support program.

The charity is also actively providing weekly hot meal vouchers.

If you would like to help support Pit-Stop donations can be sent to – The Pit-Stop Youth Trust Unit 11 De La Warr Mews, Bexhill, TN40-1RD. The charity’s website is - www.pitstoptrust.com.

Local charity is working hard to help young people in Hastings and Rother get through the lockdown