Our history
How EYAI began
EYAI was started by Jo Brown and Rev'd Pippa Soundy in 2012 and gained charity status in 2021.
Where it started
Why we decided to start EYAI
As an outreach youth worker, Jo has watched various teenagers grow up into young adults with, for whatever reason, no practical experience or qualifications to gain employment. Some have been out of work for a long time.
With this in mind, Jo and Pippa wanted to see more provision for them when they get to the stage in their growing up of wanting to be working.
Pippa has always supported Jo with her outreach youth work, and so between them they were able to come up with an idea of how to put Jo's knowledge and passion for supporting young adults together with the help of skilled workers in various trades, alongside mentoring support to build up the self-confidence they will have lost through negative experiences trying to gain and stay in education and/or employment.
Jo Brown
Jo's background
Jo has a degree in Business Management with Social Sciences with the Open University, alongside training including Mind's youth mental health first aid and various other relevant training.
During childcare positions Jo has attended child protection courses, first aid training in schools and workplaces, and confidential information security.
After leaving school, Jo began her childcare career as a nanny. While raising her own children as a single mother, she continued to develop her experience through childminding, setting up and running play schemes, after-school clubs and youth clubs, alongside teaching assistant roles in junior schools.
Due to Jo's personal experiences and through working in the public sector over the years, she has a lot of empathy for the young adults she works with, as they struggle to grow into positive members of their communities.
Rev'd Pippa Soundy
Pippa's background
Pippa and Jo met whilst Jo was working as the youth worker for Holmer Green Christ Church, and she also supported Jo during her work as an age group leader for Hazlemere Lighthouse over five years. Jo supported Pippa throughout her vicar training.
Pippa's outlook on Church work was always in an outreach capacity, working with and for local communities, and she worked in four small villages. She particularly wanted to encourage more use of the churches and, long term, wanted to see many more church premises utilised for their communities.
In her name
Remembering Pippa
Sadly, Pippa lost her battle with cancer in 2021. Since then, we have opened our own community cafés in her name.
Looking ahead, our aim is for these cafés to be based in churches, helping to fulfil Pippa's vision of church premises offering greater support to their communities beyond Sunday worship.
Ready to take the first step?
Whether you are a young adult looking for support, a parent, an employer or a future volunteer, we would love to hear from you.