As part of our drive to support local charities, this week we look at the valuable support provided by The Matthew Project.
Impact of Covid-19
In early 2020, Meg was not feeling positive about her future. A stay-at-home mum, she’d recently moved to Norfolk to escape domestic abuse, and was feeling extremely isolated, rarely leaving the house.
In March, these problems were compounded further by Covid-19 and the first lockdown. Meg needed help, and reached out to the Matthew Project’s On Track service. At the time, most support was being offered remotely.
“My coach initially took it really slowly because of my anxiety. We started off with telephone calls, and then onto video calls to build my confidence.”
Meg also took part in video cooking challenges, created by the Matthew Project, which participants could watch online and follow at home, with ingredients delivered to young people across Norfolk.
During this time, the Matthew Project was working hard to resume face-to-face support and groups as soon as possible. By June 2020, the Next Steps recovery hub, in central Norwich, had reopened, with PPE, staggered group timings, and social distancing in place to ensure the safety of staff and participants.
At the same time, outreach support across Norfolk and beyond began to take a hybrid form, with face-to-face visits when needed, along with regular telephone and video calls. These were accompanied by hundreds of well-being care packages being sent out.
Meg’s confidence began to grow, and she began planning for her future. Her coach provided interview support and arranged a grant for an interview outfit.
“Everything was done at my own pace—my coach was always available, and gave me space if I didn’t want to meet in person.”
Now, over two and a half years on, support across the Matthew Project is almost back to normal, with outreach visits across the county, regular activities and events, and a bustling atmosphere at Next Steps.
Meg’s future is looking far more positive: “When I came to On Track, I wouldn’t have even sat down by myself in a café. Now I’m a student nurse! I’m feeling good about education and excited for my course.”
However, many people are still feeling the impact of Covid-19, with rising levels of mental ill health and social isolation, as well as the effects of drug and alcohol use as a coping mechanism.
About the charity
The story of the Matthew Project began in the early 1980s, with a social worker called Peter Farley. While working with young people, Peter became concerned about the level of substance misuse he was seeing among young people in the city, particularly glue-sniffing at the time, and the lack of support available for them. In response to this need, Peter set up the Matthew Project, a Norfolk-based charity, along with support from his wife, Margaret.
Over the years, the charity has grown in size and scope, and now provides a range of support around substance misuse, mental health, and employability. Services are available for children affected by substance misuse, veterans affected by PTSD and/or substance misuse, adults in recovery from addiction, and young people facing multiple barriers to employment.
Our vision is for every person we work together with, affected by substance misuse, mental well-being, and related barriers to know their value and belong, so they can overcome their challenges and have purpose. By focusing on the unique strengths of every person we support, we work together with people towards positive change.
The charity’s main office is situated on Oak Street, Norwich, at the recently refurbished Next Steps recovery hub, which features a wide range of facilities, including a training kitchen, a barista bar, an exercise studio, a skills workshop, an IT room, an art studio, and a range of counselling and therapeutic spaces. The hub welcomes people from all backgrounds, with specialist support programmes for adults in recovery from addiction, veterans, and young people requiring well-being support and counselling.
Why Matthew?
The name Matthew was chosen as it means ‘gift of God’. Peter wanted the Matthew Project to be a gift to those who needed support and believed all people were themselves gifts of great value.
Big Give Christmas Challenge
The transition from child to adult is a challenge, but now young people face additional pressures. Even before Covid-19, worrying trends in young people’s mental health were emerging across England. Growing child poverty, homelessness and food poverty have all contributed to an unprecedented rise in mental health problems.
At the same time, a reduction in available support has meant that many young people have nowhere to turn, and the risk of issues worsening over time.
To support young people, the Matthew Project runs an early intervention service, which offers one-to-one support, groups, and school-based workshops across Norfolk.
However, funding is limited, and we need your help in continuing this support. This week, we launched our Big Give Christmas Challenge for 2022. Between now and midday on Tuesday December 6, any money you donate to the Matthew Project will be doubled.
For more information, or to donate, please visit www.matthewproject.org/thebiggive
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