In 2024, YourStance was selected by our Young Grant Makers for a grant to fund their vital work surrounding youth violence. YourStance aims to provide young people with essential medical knowledge and practical skills in case of an emergency, where young people and youth practitioners are often first on scene following serious assaults. A few months into the project, I had the opportunity to visit and observe some of their impactful work.
“YourStance aims to provide young people with essential medical knowledge and practical skills in case of an emergency, where young people and youth practitioners are often first on scene following serious assaults.”
YourStance has created a workshop for young people called “Zero Responders”. Within this, young people between the ages of 11 and 25 have the opportunity to learn what to do in the case of a medical emergency before a professional responder arrives on the scene. The course equips the youth with essential knowledge on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and bleed control.
YourStance was established in 2019 and has conducted nearly 300 workshops across London. By 2023, they had worked with nearly 300 young people across various communities in London. With the funding from Islington Giving, they hope to work with 150 young Islington Residents during the three years, in a range of community settings and in Pentonville Prison.
The workshops, led by experienced healthcare professionals, ensure that all participants felt engaged and gain invaluable hands-on experience in a positive and welcoming environment, learning vital skills such as CPR and bleed control methods. This was an amazing demonstration that important and hard-to-discuss topics can be explored in a way that feels less daunting.
“This was an amazing demonstration that important and hard-to-discuss topics can be explored in a way that feels less daunting.”
The YourStance workshop was truly remarkable and has undoubtedly surpassed their initial goals, fostering incredible connections through laughter, collaboration, and learning about serious matters. The workshop was perfectly concluded by rewarding attendees with a certificate for their efforts and the knowledge gained. I look forward to seeing more of their inspiring and amazing work!
By Jarah, Alumni Storyteller
I’m Jarah, and I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Young Grant Makers Programme in 2022. This consisted of reviewing applications for charity grants for social issues young people believed were important to society. This experience deepened my passion for promoting social change and advocating for those in need. Following my time with Islington Giving, I chose to study Sociology and the Politics of Science, which has allowed me to further explore the social issues that Islington Giving has tackled in the past. It has also expanded my knowledge of policy development, providing a strong foundation for my future aspirations—hopefully in a role as a policy developer.
