We are Level Up Gosport!
Who we are: Level Up Gosport (LUPG) is a focused, local charity dedicated to empowering young people (aged 18-25) facing additional needs, mental health challenges, anxiety, or SEND. We bridge societal gaps by providing tailored support, fostering confidence, reducing isolation and promoting personal growth through mentorship, team engagement, community volunteering, alongside our outcome-based Work EXperience initiative (WEXi) programmes.
Our Vision: Our strategic aim is to enable these young individuals to transition to independence, form meaningful friendships, and secure sustainable employment opportunities.
Our Mission: We believe in the limitless potential of young people, seeing them as key to a brighter future for our community. We are committed to equity and inclusion, ensuring that everyone, regardless of identity, background, or disability, has the opportunity to reach their full potential, strengthening our community.
Our charity offers young people a range of impactful opportunities to develop their skills, build confidence, and thrive:
- WEXi (Work EXperience initiative): A free, innovative and diverse programme of supported, outcome-focused work experience;
- Volunteering: Engaging in local community activities and events to promote social inclusion and personal growth;
- Social Meetings: Fortnightly gatherings to foster friendships, reduce isolation and build a supportive community;
- Training & Workshops: Skills-based sessions on topics such as Money Matters, Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Food Health & Hygiene to enhance employability and life skills;
- Community Allotment: Hands-on experience in cultivating an organic, sustainable allotment, learning horticultural skills while promoting environmental responsibility.
…We are very honoured and delighted in 2024 to have received the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), which is equivalent to an MBE for charities…
…Over the 16+ years since we have been established – 80% of the youth volunteers we have supported have moved on into either sustained employment; returned to full-time education and/or independent volunteering…
“I think the volunteering I did with Level Up Gosport has helped me to get the job I have always wanted.” Julie
Our WEXi programme...
WEXi (Work EXperience initiative) – enabling young people to gain life skills & move on into sustainable employment…
We have recently developed WEXi (Work EXperience initiative) by partnering with local businesses, organisations and charities to provide an outcome-based programme of employability skills to enable the young people we support to move on into employment.
Our current WEXi programme providers are:
HiQ: Tyres and Autocare Gosport – garage – mechanical, valeting and repair skills;
Gosport Museum & Art Gallery (GMAG) – heritage & culture – café, front of house and general duty skills;
The CO-OPerative – offering a variety of retail, customer and grocery skills;
RSPCA: Stubbington Ark – a large animal centre, offering care for a wide range of domestic pets, farm animals and wildlife;
The Carisbrooke Arms – a local Gosport pub – bar/kitchen, hospitality skills and general duties;
Nelly’s Woofers & Grooming: Fareham – offering dog grooming, alongside selling natural & raw foods, treats & accessories;
Barnados Charity Shop – various public service skills within a retail environment;
Plan B Alternative Provision – ship building, music workshops, training and water sports (this is currently on hold);
Marvels & Meltdowns – supporting the staff, children & the families at events within the centre;
Community Allotment – horticulture – weeding, watering, planting, pruning, harvesting, plus much more (this is in development);
Gosport Leisure Centre – offering a variety of sport & leisure facilities, including swimming lessons, a gym, plus more! (this is in development);
The Hub4stuff – furniture collection for redistribution and re-purposing – customer service and community engagement;
Gosport Community Association – gardening, decorating, administration, bar work and event management;
Gosport Community Cinema – social media, event management and sound desk skills;
Open Sight, Gosport – who provide guidance, support and activities for visually impaired individuals – supporting meetings, administrative skills, befriending;
We have more partnerships interested in becoming involved with WEXi – watch this space for more updates…
Our charity’s ethos is to provide our youth volunteers with a social pathway into employment, that is cost effective and eventually not reliant on grant funding.
Our Legacy and Policies...
LEVEL UP GOSPORT’S LEGACY:
Through the volunteering achieved by our youth volunteers, they have saved the local economy thousands in the necessity of waging staff to support local events and activities; and through our charity’s endeavours to encourage them to find employment – we have saved the DWP and UK tax payer many, many thousands in benefits.
OUR POLICIES
Level Up Safeguarding of Young People Policy 2025
Would you like to join Level Up Gosport?...
We support young adults aged between 18 – 25 years, that are neurodivergent, have an additional need or physical disability; or have mental health challenges like low self-esteem or anxiety, that do not receive High Needs Funding from the local authority. Go to our CONTACT US page or click the email address in the bottom of this page, if you would like to find out more about the support we can offer.
One of our young people participating in a WEXi programme at The Carisbrooke Arms, Public House, Gosport.
Gratefully receiving a cheque from the CO-OP Community Fund, Gosport.
Some Of Our partners and supporters: we are very grateful
