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This initiative is the idea of Pastor Luke Castro, who heads UCKG's Victory Youth Group (VYG) across all of the 17 UCKG churches in the UK. It was created in response to a small but increasing number of young mothers from 17 to 24 years of age who have started attending the VYG in recent months and have benefited from contact with the group. The VYG is now running dedicated meetings at the Rainbow Theatre, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park at 1.00 pm every other Saturday where mothers in their teens and early 20s can gain support and advice. The main aim is to provide them with an opportunity to share their worries openly with others who have had the same experience and have managed to turn their situation around. Pastor Luke stresses that the meetings are open to all, not just young women who have some connection with the UCKG. We set up the VYG Parenting group because there is a very real need and there does not seem to be anything similar in the area, he said. Britain currently has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Europe with 31 births per 1,000 teenagers. Unplanned single motherhood, whether the result of a failed relationship or a one night stand, hits some young women very hard. They feel as if their lives as women in their own right are over and they will only ever be mums, with no chance of realising their aspirations, continued Pastor Luke. Young women in this situation often suffer from very low self-esteem. Many face financial and lifestyle limitations that come with living on benefits, miss out on college education, or live in crowded family homes with no space to call their own. The pressures of dealing with a child at an age when they can barely manage to look after themselves can be overwhelming, and so often they believe that there's nowhere to go, Pastor Luke added. Lorena Victorino, a member of the group recalls her early experiences as a teenage mother. When you find yourself with a child at a very young age you feel depressed, pressured and down. Since I started coming to the VYG I have received a lot of help and support which has given me the strength to cope. This new group will do the same for other young mothers who may be feeling as I was. This group is not just about coming and receiving information, added member, Shavaughn Best. Though many may feel shy at first, they will leave with practical advice and answers. They will have the tools that they need to change their situation around. Topics covered in the group sessions include: adjusting to life as a single mother, dealing with stress, time management, and how to enjoy yourself while being a responsible mother. For further information on the group, call the 24 hour Help Line on 020 7686 6000 and ask to speak to the youth leader. ~Ends- If you require any further information regarding the UCKG, please submit your enquiry or telephone Francessca Lewis on 0207 686 6033.
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