A HELPFUL Witham-based charity has celebrated its first major milestone as bosses look to the future of the organisation.
Paulina Kostas, 31, from Witham, is the CEO of Popcorn Young Adults Community, which had its first official birthday on July 3.
Popcorn Young Adults Community is a non-profit organisation designed by and for young adults aged 16 to 30.
It was technically started in February last year through Eastlight Community Homes’s ‘All In’ community teams for Witham and Halstead as a pilot scheme.
However, Popcorn Young Adults Community was fully inaugurated in July 2023.
Paulina said: “We are celebrating our first birthday this month, which is a huge milestone for a grassroot organisation like ours.
“We are proud, excited and determined to reach more and more young adults, who tend to be forgotten, while full of overwhelming expectations and nowhere to seek non-judgmental support.”
Popcorn’s aim is to help bring people together and reduce social isolation and loneliness among them.
This is done through “high impact eight-week support programmes”, social events where members of the charity will meetup, and activities are arranged.
So far, the group has taken part in a tree planting session in Spa Road in order to help younger people actively get involved in fighting climate change, there’s been a pizza-making workshop, and many social gatherings.
There was even a ‘creative crafts’ session held at Edda Coffee, in Newland Street, to celebrate Pride month in June.
The organisation also partners with local businesses such as Eastlight Community Homes, Bellway, Essex Youth Service, and Fusion Leisure Centres.
Popcorn Young Adults Community does focus on Witham but it has a policy, meaning it is more than happy to see anyone from Halstead, Maldon or further afield in the county.
She said: "We have an open door policy, our main focus is Witham and the Witham community but as long as people are happy to travel and fit, they are more than welcome."
Speaking about the future, Paulina has big plans.
Paulina said: “The past 12 months have been incredibly difficult but incredibly rewarding.
“I can see that Popcorn can grow as long as we have the right partners, people joining the team, and we can really create a popcorn community across Essex, that is my dream.
“It has huge potential to support young adults across Essex.
“We want to help people connect and reconnect.
“I asked one of our members what he likes about Popcorn.
“He said ‘you don’t have to be anything, you just have to exist to join Popcorn’.
“That is something I’m really proud of, we welcome everyone.”
To find out more about Popcorn Young Adults Community, head to popcorncommunity.co.uk.
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