Empower has been serving the primary & secondary schools
around the Braintree & Halstead areas since 1996.
Here's a bit of a timeline...
​1996
Inspired by the work of CYO Colchester, the churches of Braintree agree to trial a similar project.
1997
A part-time secondary schools worker is employed and work begins in the Braintree and Witham areas.
1998
An instant success, CYO welcomes Olive & Sheena to the team to start work in Braintree primary schools
1999
Matt joins us as our first full-time worker, serving the Braintree, Witham and Halstead area secondary schools.
2003
CYO employs its first primary schools workers for the Witham area.
2004
Sarah is employed as a part-time secondary schools worker, specialising in dance and emotional wellbeing among girls.
We employ our first primary schools worker for the Halstead area.
​
2010
Following a number of years of different staff joining and moving on from CYO, the team is further expanded with part-time workers in Braintree & Witham.
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2012
The Witham primary work grows with the employment of an additional worker.
​
2014
The Witham team establish a separate charity, enabling CYO to expand its work in the Braintree and Halstead areas.
​
2015
Matt is appointed Director, continuing with secondary schools work.
Sally takes on the primary schools work in the Halstead area.
Nikki joins Sheena in the Braintree primary schools.
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2020
After some years' absence, Sarah joins the team to focus on mentoring in the Halstead area secondary schools.
The Covid pandemic leads CYO to develop their online presence for schools, delivering assemblies, lessons and projects via their YouTube channel and other media.
​
2021
Sarah leaves CYO to have a baby.
Following successful grant applications, Delana & Holly join the team to focus on mentoring, with Delana also employed to redevelop primary schools work in the Halstead area.
A degree of normality returns to schools work post-pandemic with minor restrictions in place
​
2022
Schools work is back to normal post-pandemic.
Holly leaves CYO to have a baby.
Further funding enables us to offer Delana a permanent contract.
Katie is employed to work with Sheena in the Braintree primary schools.
​
2023
Another successful grant application enables us to employ Hilary for 12 months as a secondary schools mentor, despite regular income dropping significantly.
Demand for more work reaches an all-time high, igniting discussions between staff & trustees about CYO's future and what else can be offered to local schools.
​
2024
Trustees vote to change the name of CYO to Empower.
A surprise grant appears, funding the entirety of Empower's work in the Halstead area for 12 months.
As a christian charity, Empower shares biblical values through much of its work. In line with government requirements, workers will share their faith when invited to, such as in assemblies and RE lessons. Through all its services, Empower continues to be a non-judgemental, all-embracing charity, entirely focused on the needs of the young people it reaches as opposed to pushing its own agenda.
We are committed to providing services on a fair and equitable basis, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, lifestyle, sex, sexuality, physical/mental disability or any other factor.
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We have only one agenda...EMPOWER!