1181923. Those are the seven digits that form Clockwork’s registered charity number. Yes, we are finally a registered charity! Our thanks to everyone for their patience and understanding in waiting for our registration to be approved – we now look forward to proceeding with our mission to help young people.

The next key step for us is building a suitable home – a safe space for young people, from which counselling services and other wellbeing activities can be offered. The identified site for this HQ is the space above Idol Hands Music & Design Shop on Station Road West (almost opposite the cinema). A planning application has been submitted to Tandridge Council, as some major structural changes would be needed: for example, building a separate entrance to the building, exclusively for access to the Clockwork space. We have been advised it could take up to eight weeks for feedback to be received on our application, but we hope to be able to start work on the site very soon.

We have also been working hard on getting our website up and running (www.clockwork.org.uk/), and, while still a work-in-progress, you can now find information on the charity; our Trustees and Advisory group; and services that are available for young people to access, either locally or nationally.

Since becoming a registered charity, we have appointed Dom Damesick as Development Officer. Dom is an Oxted resident, and is involved in the life of the local community, through his work for The Bluehouse Festival and The Oxted Sessions. His role will be to help the charity develop and proceed with a programme of fundraising and community projects, as well as being a point of contact for the charity.
On his appointment, Dom said: “The support and goodwill shown towards Clockwork since Matt [Hayes, Founder and Trustee] announced it as an idea has highlighted, I think, how keenly a charity like this is needed in our community. Like many people, I have experienced mental health issues, and I think it is vital that young people have support and information available to them. I hope and believe that Clockwork can make a tangible, positive difference to the lives of young adults in our community.”

Meanwhile, on the 20th and 21st May, nine members of team Clockwork took a Youth Mental Health First Aid Course, run by MHFA England. It was an extremely rewarding, informative and inspiring two days, and all nine attendees are now accredited Youth Mental Health First Aiders! Congratulations to Emma Courtman, Ian Courtman, Dom Damesick, Kelly Doughty, Elle Hayes, Matt Hayes, Kathy Gamble, Annie Roberts and Robin Sundt; and our thanks to Kelly for organising the course on behalf of Clockwork, and to MHFA England’s Christine Moran for being such a supportive and encouraging course leader.
We are also very pleased to announce that we are continuing to fund an additional day of counselling, provided by Relate, for young people at Oxted School. The feedback we have received on this has been extremely positive, and we hope this can continue to help students receive the support they need.

Looking forward, Clockwork will have a stall at Limpsfield Grange School’s Summer Fair on Saturday 29th June. The fair runs from 12-3pm, and Clockwork will be there until around 1.30pm, so do come and say hello! There will be a range of stalls and games, including a tombola and a bouncy castle, as well as delicious food offerings and live music. Then, in July, we will be running our first Clockwork open mic night for under-25s. This is a chance for young adults to come and play, or just listen, and meet some other like-minded souls. Keep your eyes peeled as we will be announcing all the details for this in the next couple of weeks.

Finally, we are so thankful and appreciative of the continued support and donations we receive. Thank you to Nicola Last, who raised over £3,000 for Clockwork, by selling or raffling donated items – and thanks to all who so generously donated items. To the unstoppable Phil Vowles and Dan Lucas, who rode the Liege-Bastogne-Liege: battling through wind, rain and hail, the guys completed all 279 kilometres, and raised £2,790 in the process. And to the wonderful Peter and Vicky Green for donating the proceeds from their beautiful Molly’s Calendars project to Clockwork.

Our thanks also to the fundraising efforts of Oxted Classic Cars; Carla Scrivener; Ryan Parsons; St Mary’s Church, Farleigh; Oxted & District Tangent Club; Robertson’s Coffee Shop; W.A. Truelove & Son Funeral Directors; Sue Weatherby and Tony McTiernan; and the Fraser family. We are so grateful for your support.

We are excited to be starting our work in earnest over the coming weeks and months. For the latest on what we’re up to, give us a follow on Facebook @clockworkcharity and Instagram @clockworkoxted. And you can always get in touch with us via email enquiries@clockwork.org.uk.