We are proud toannounce, we have funded Open Door Charity in Birkenhead.

Open Door, a dedicated mental health charity, is committed to empowering young people and improving their life outcomes and opportunities.

At The Arete Foundation,we recognise that strong mental health is essential for sustainable success ineducation, training, and employment.

According to the latest national data (end of 2024), youth unemployment has seen a significant rise, with 642,000 young people aged 16 to 24 currently unemployed—an increase of 136,000 compared to the previous year.

In Wirral, youth unemployment slightly exceeds the national average. The most affected areas liein the east of the borough, where high rates of unemployment align closely with patterns of deprivation. This trend is reflected in our own charity’s access data, with the majority of our members coming from Birkenhead and Wallasey—communities ranked among the top 1% most deprived areas in the UK.

Open Door’s Bazaar Programme is a free, eight-week peer support initiative that combines mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and counselling to helpreduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Designed for young people aged 14 to 35, the programme supports those who are NEET (Not inEducation, Employment, or Training) and proactively works to prevent others from falling through the cracks.

The Arete Foundation is proud to support the Bazaar Programme by funding the recruitment and training of its dedicated volunteers.

“Embedding training,learning, and development opportunities within our projects—especiallyBazaar—is central to our mission. We depend on the energy and commitment ofyoung volunteers, who challenge themselves, gain transferable skills, andadvance their own wellbeing and career paths, all while contributing to thegrowth and development of others.”

Open Door