Youth Concern’s young people, staff and trustees welcomed the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire the Countess Howe DL to our Drop-in Centre on 7^th July.

A lord-lieutenant is the British monarch’s personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the UK. Lady Howe was appointed Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire in November 2020, having served previously as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Deputy Lieutenant and president or patron to a number of local charities; Lady Howe is embedded in Bucks community.

We invited Lady Howe to visit to tell her more about Youth Concern’s work with vulnerable and disadvantaged 13-25 year olds. Having met three of our trustees, Chair Steve Louis, Treasurer Steve Wells and our longest-standing trustee Cllr Steve Lambert, we shared a presentation about our Drop-in Centre, Next Step Project and counselling team, giving regular examples of how our work positively impacts the lives of individuals. Lady Howe then met six of ‘our’ young people who shared what it’s been like to live under Covid restrictions, the pressures they are or have faced with education and employment, accommodation and emotional health. Having grown up locally, studied for a B.Ed degree and worked as a teacher, Lady Howe commented ‘The work you’re doing here is so valuable’.