News & Updates
Keep up to date with what is happening at UTurn, including youth projects, fundraising, community support, project impact and stories from young people and families across Tendring and Essex.
We will continue adding updates here as new projects, events and community stories develop.
This page shares what is happening across UTurn, including updates from our Youth Ambassadors,
community fundraising, supporter news, project impact and stories from our work with young people
and families across Tendring and the surrounding areas.
Latest Updates
Youth Ambassadors Fundraising
Our Youth Ambassadors are taking on fundraising challenges to raise money and awareness for UTurn.
East of England Co-op
UTurn has been chosen by the Fronks Road store in Harwich as their Local Giving charity.
Police Open Day
UTurn attended the Police Open Day to connect with the community, raise awareness and support positive relationships.
Meet UGO
Meet UGO, a friendly face for UTurn helping us connect with young people and families.
Jules’ Story
A story of confidence, belonging and youth leadership through long-term support.
Developing Futures Impact
National Lottery funding helped UTurn strengthen support for children, young people and families.
Youth Ambassadors Fundraising to Support UTurn
Our Youth Ambassadors have been working hard behind the scenes and will be taking on a range of fundraising challenges to raise money and awareness for UTurn.
For many of our young people, this is a big personal achievement. It is about confidence, resilience, teamwork and stepping outside their comfort zones.
We are so proud of the effort they are already putting in. We have had our first donations, and we would love to keep the momentum going.
Even a small donation makes a big difference and shows our young people that the community is behind them.
Support our Youth AmbassadorsCommunity support
We’ve been chosen by East of England Co-op
We’ve been chosen by the East of England Co-op’s Fronks Road store in Harwich
as their Local Giving charity for summer.
From 1 June 2026 to 31 August 2026, the store will be supporting
UTurn by:
- Collecting donations for us
- Raising awareness of our work
- Supporting young people in the local community
This support will help UTurn continue creating positive opportunities for young people
in Tendring and the surrounding areas through mentoring, youth projects, sport,
creative activities and safe spaces.
Pop in store to get involved and donate.
A huge thank you to East of England Co-op and the Fronks Road store in Harwich
for supporting UTurn.
Community event
Police Open Day: Connecting with the Community
UTurn was pleased to be part of the Police Open Day, meeting members of the local community
and helping to raise awareness of the support available for young people and families.
Events like this are a valuable opportunity to build positive relationships, share information,
speak with families and young people, and strengthen partnership working across the community.
UTurn’s work is built around prevention, early support, trusted relationships and giving young people
safe opportunities to talk, connect and make positive choices.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, supported our work or helped make the day possible.
Meet UGO
We’re excited to introduce UGO, a new friendly face for UTurn.
UGO will help us share messages about confidence, kindness, safety, teamwork and positive choices in a fun and engaging way for young people, families and the wider community.
As UTurn continues to grow, we want young people to feel connected, included and proud to be part of something positive. UGO is another way for us to bring energy, encouragement and a sense of fun to our youth work, events, fundraising and community activities.
Keep an eye out for UGO at future UTurn activities, updates and community events.
Jules’ Story: From Support to Youth Leadership
At UTurn, our work is built around safe spaces, trusted relationships and giving young people the chance to recognise their own potential.
Jules’ journey is a powerful example of this. After being connected to the UTurn family for many years, she has grown through support, encouragement and belonging.
Today, Jules is a Youth Ambassador Leader with UTurn, using her lived experience to support, encourage and inspire other young people.
Jules has also recently been involved in interviews and events linked to Essex County Council’s Sons and Daughters project, sharing reflections on fostering, family, belonging and positive futures.
Stories like this show why UTurn exists: to create safe, consistent support around young people and help them build confidence, resilience and brighter futures.
Developing Futures: Three Years of Impact
Through the Developing Futures project, National Lottery funding helped UTurn strengthen and grow support for children, young people and families across Tendring and Colchester.
The project helped UTurn recruit and retain two Senior Project Co-ordinators, strengthening safeguarding, staff and volunteer support, monitoring, partnerships and service development.
- More than 11,500 youth and family engagements recorded across the project
- 40% increase in volunteer recruitment, training and support
- Support delivered across Tendring and Colchester
- New targeted projects developed from community learning
The learning from this work continues to shape UTurn’s future delivery, including youth voice, mentoring, wellbeing support, preventative work and community-based projects.
Have something to share?
If you have supported UTurn, taken part in fundraising, donated items, volunteered, sponsored an activity or helped young people in our community, we would love to hear from you.
Contact UTurn