The Pearl Exchange's workshop are changing young people's lives for the better
The Pearl Exchange offers 18 – 35-year-olds in Bude a chance to connect, create and discover while accessing support for their mental health and future decisions.
They received £47,411 from the Community FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions., VCSE Health Improvement Fund, People In Mind and Bude Area Fund.
The Pearl Exchange have engaged 450 young people in the last year through 178 workshops which included jewellery making, leather work, printmaking, textiles, drama, and creative writing.
The workshops have taught transferable skills in communication, presentation, and employability, which have really supported improved mood, social skills and confidence. The Peal Exchange also advocates the importance of positive community intervention:
“If we can support the young adults in our community to build resilience and positive mental health, in turn, we are helping the wider community.”
One attendee first came to the Pearl Exchange because he was looking to find friends outside the pub. He attended ‘Arty Friday’ sessions and quickly began to make friends and push himself to learn new skills.
As a result, he has found a new network of friends and positive influences. He now regularly goes to the Pearl Exchange and has even started attending their new cookery classes to learn how to cook healthy food.
Another young participant has shared:
“I could never have dreamt of doing the things I have without The Pearl Exchange, due to finances, a lack of confidence and nowhere else offering such creatively rich opportunities with such a welcoming environment and people. My biggest achievement at The Pearl Exchange is learning to DJ and playing my first set at The Pearl Exchange’s charity fundraiser. A year ago I was housebound, so if you told me that I’d learn a skill I’d always wanted to learn (and never thought I could), that I had grown in confidence and surrounded myself with people who put faith into me and that that’s what I’d accomplished as a result I’d never believe you.”
