The Young Gloucestershire (YG) Organisation is a Lottery funded drop in Centre for Young Adults and is dedicated to helping them to get a start in life on leaving school. They offer training, development, advice and support too, whilst providing a haven to attend when help or guidance is needed. Volunteer Mentors or Counsellors, an essential part of the operation at the YG find their roles Enjoyable, Taxing and spiritually rewarding!
It is at this point that I can introduce Charles Perkins, a relatively new Mentor and Counsellor at YG, who is committed to helping young and vulnerable adults. Having been and still is a successful businessman, he feels it is the right time in his life “to give something back” to the Community. He is passionate about helping the current youth of Gloucester and even after a short discussion with him you get a feeling that he generates an infectious enthusiasm.
It was during his induction at the YG that Charles first heard that the YG premises in Southgate street was under threat from the Landlords who , having alternative plans for the building ,wanted to evict YG at the end of their lease. Charles was appalled at this idea and in Charles’ words “ I, immediately saw that this facility could not be lost as its help is so invaluable in keeping so many young people off the streets permanently and away from drug addiction”. At that point he decided to use the successful renovation and launch of the Secret Garden Nursery to persuade the bank that Gloucester City was “going places” and to co fund the purchase of the Southgate street building. Once completed Charles then offered the YG a long term lease for 10 years so that they could the maintain their great work with the certainty of continuity for the future.
Charles is the MD and co-owner of the Secret Garden Nursery in Eastgate Street, which was his first investment venture into Gloucester. The Nursery opened some 6 months ago and since it has flourished into an accomplished Nursery which to date has almost 100 infants and toddlers on its register. The nursery rooms are described as very spacious with an incredible amount of natural light. The regency feature makes this a special place for children to spend their day and the large walled garden is the icing on the cake!
Charles is married to wife Katie and has three children of their own. Katie draws on her past experience as a Social Worker and is delighted to be part of a Nursery team, dedicated to enriching the lives of the children in their care. She is delighted when she can pass on her professional experience to assist Parents and carers with any queries they might have.
The link between the Secret Garden and the Young Gloucestershire Centre will become stronger as Charles has a renovation plan for the internal parts of the Centre which will improve the quality of the facilities. It will follow the Nursery ethos by making the area suitable for babies and parents also. Additionally, access to the fabulous garden facilities at the Nursery will be offered to young parents from the YG to enjoy.
Charles is keen to give back to the Community and although he hails from Cheltenham , he has identified the potential for successful development in Gloucester City. For this initiative alone he is a most welcomed addition to our City businesses, particularly when it results in creating and helping worthwhile causes. Perhaps the staffs at the Nursery and at the YG are right when they describe Charles as a local hero?
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