Michael Jones Jeweller Community
The Lowdown 2024
At Michael Jones Jeweller, giving back to our community is at the heart of everything we do. One of the causes closest to us is The Lowdown, a Northampton-based charity providing vital mental health support to young people. In 2024, we proudly donated £5,000 through our Michael Jones Jeweller Community Fund to help them expand their crucial services. In this blog, we’re excited to share an update from The Lowdown on how they have used this donation to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable young people in our community.
This year we focused your donation on our Out There LGBTQ+ Support Groups and their Residential to Birmingham.
The weekend was hugely successful, with many positive outcomes, both young people and leaders had a great time. Our Out There members are a diverse group of young people, all unique and with their own strengths and challenges. Many struggle with social anxiety, many are neurodiverse and many have never been away from home and avoid being around groups of people with lots of noise and activity.
Our young people were heavily involved in the planning this year. They worked collaboratively with leaders and the team worked hard to ensure that the trip was as youth-led as possible. Like the previous residential, the young people simply wanted a break away from home, to have fun and to socialise with their friends. Many of the young people built new relationships and strengthened already existing friendships. They also improved their social skills, decreased anxiety and helped with their social interactions and confidence.
The weekend was hugely successful, with many positive outcomes, both young people and leaders had a great time. Our Out There members are a diverse group of young people, all unique and with their own strengths and challenges. Many struggle with social anxiety, many are neurodiverse and many have never been away from home and avoid being around groups of people with lots of noise and activity.
Our young people were heavily involved in the planning this year. They worked collaboratively with leaders and the team worked hard to ensure that the trip was as youth-led as possible. Like the previous residential, the young people simply wanted a break away from home, to have fun and to socialise with their friends. Many of the young people built new relationships and strengthened already existing friendships. They also improved their social skills, decreased anxiety and helped with their social interactions and confidence.
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What was your favourite part of this year's residential?
“As always one of my favourite things about the residential is interacting/socialising with others, especially those who I've never felt the right opportunity to speak with at group. Being on the residential also always seems to give me more energy/drive/pull to speak with people more and be more outgoing, I couldn't explain exactly why that is, but it always is the case. In terms of planned activity, I really enjoyed the bowling and had lots of fun with it”. “I enjoyed the sea life centre and getting to know a few more members of the club outside or my age range”. |
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What did you achieve whilst away?
“New friends”. “Made new friends and felt like I could be myself and wouldn’t be judged”. “Spoke to people I haven’t before”. “Mingled with more members of the group that I hadn't really had the chance to speak too. I feel like I'm making actual friends”. “I spoke to some new people, had a good time - it gave me the opportunity to have fun as myself while feeling safe”. “Enjoyed independence”. |
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How has the residential trip helped you?
“Socialising with a lot more people”. “I feel a lot more connected to the people in my group :)”. “Gave me a break from everything such as after gcses and work”. “Made me feel more comfortable, allowing me to dress more how I want to around others”. “Socialisation, I got to know others more, less anxiety around others”. “Improved friendships”. |
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The Impact
One plus member (aged 18-25) in particular experienced quite a few breakthroughs, his confidence grew and he came on leaps and bounds on this year’s residential trip. Going to stay in the university accommodation meant that he got to experience what it would be like to share a living space with six people his age away from his parents and he has now gone off to university with confidence and excitement. I noticed he also has gotten a lot better at coping with overstimulation than previous events, where the loud noises were too much. He coped really well in the aquarium and bowling, both of which were busy and loud. His growth was clear to all, and the positive impact it has now had on his new journey at university is clear to see. “The residential allowed me place where I could have fun, while being myself, giving me more confidence to present the way I want and be who I truly am. I feel I can speak for the other members when I say it was an invaluable experience that I hope happens again”. |
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Your funding was also put towards our Out There Prom which was again enjoyed by all our Out There Members and leaders. We had a silent disco held by a local organization called ‘The Good Times Project’. It was a fabulous evening with lots of dancing.
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