Mayor's Pride Awards 2022 Finalist:
Cultural Innovation Award
Leeanna's Wish provides support for protected groups living in and around St Albans. We are uniquely placed to identify gaps in service provision and to highlight the barriers to participation and social inclusion. From grass roots level to influencing social policy, we are dedicated to combatting inequality.
What We Offer
Our mission is to engage, empower and to promote social interaction and friendships through our intergenerational programmes.
The team is led by people with lived experience and a deep understanding of the issues affecting these communities. We are dedicated to tackling systemic barriers, improving access to services and providing targeted intervention in communities with the most need. With the charitable purpose of creating safe spaces and environments where individuals can learn, play, create and develop their life skills in order to access future opportunities in education and work and have successful lives.
Schools, social work professionals, outside agencies and parents can refer directly to us. We work collaboratively with all statutory agencies including the police. We have a strong network of contacts, having fostered relationships with Herts Police, Herts Sports Partnership, St Albans Council, local schools and businesses.
Mission
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Our over-riding aim is to enable those most at risk of social exclusion to develop essential life skills, and access the range of services in the wider community.
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Leeanna's Wish will empower young people, investing time and services to enable them to develop the tools that they need to feel more confident to have their say in the future they are building.
The most deprived areas are often sat right next to the least deprived, and these levels of deprivation can be debilitating. St Albans is a prime example of this.
Origins
Leeanna's Wish came about from my sister, Cleo LeeAnna, who lost her fight with cancer in 2016. A year older than me, all Leeanna wanted to do was help people in her local community. In her final days we often spoke about the legacy she wished to leave. LeeAnna's work ethic left such an impact on me and many others. Leeanna's Wish is a testament to her, her love of community and a legacy for her sons, Sebastian and Xavier.
