Stroud youth worker to walk 60 miles to support young people

A youth worker is taking on a 60-mile sponsored hike to raise awareness of the benefits of the countryside for mental health and to champion those caring for others in the community.Isak Sandgren-Clarke, 29, from Stroud, is planning to walk from Lechlade to Fairford and then Cirencester before going to Stroud, Stonehouse and Dursley on day two.Mr Sandgren-Clarke works at The Door youth project which he said provided "vital safe spaces" for young people.He is planning to visit many of the project's youth clubs and communities on the walk which he plans to undertake between Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June.
'Volatile times'
Mr Sandgren-Clarke said the project's work across the Stroud District and South Cotswolds offers provision to young people aged between 11 and 25 and their families.As well as safe spaces, it offers positive role models and access to deeper emotional, needs-led support, he added."As a nation we are living in complex and volatile times and young people especially are struggling with their mental health."Mr Sandgren-Clarke previously raised awareness when he took on a 20-hour gaming marathon live on YouTube in 2021.He said other people from The Door would join him for parts of the walk along with some of the people supported by the project and surprise guests.He added that his aim was to support young people to take "positive steps forward and find new hope for a brighter future".

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