Member Article

Cash Boost For Young People's Projects

A pioneering project encouraging young homeless people in Durham to realise their potential is one of two projects in North East England sharing in £257,380 from the Big Lottery Fund. The money comes from the Young People’s Fund programme, which will distribute £40 million of lottery cash to groups working with young people in England over the next two years.

Shaidy Characters - a group of young people who have come together through Single Homeless Action Initiative Derwentside (SHAID) – will receive £125,120 to help young homeless people gain practical skills and confidence through their involvement in training and projects. A project that is responding to the wants and needs of young people living in West Cornforth will also receive a grant of £132,268. The Cornforth Partnership will use the funding to establish a dedicated space for young people at the heart of West Cornforth.

SHAID Development Worker, Jane Williamson, said: “The experience of homelessness can be devastating for an individual. The Shaidy Characters project shows that homeless people have enormous potential and a great deal to contribute. This grant will provide these young adults with an opportunity to move on in life and use their experiences to help others through difficult times.” J

ames Turner, Big Lottery Fund Head of North East region, said: “These latest projects in the North East are an excellent illustration of the creative ideas being supported by the Young People’s Fund programme. Every one of these grants, whether large or small, is playing an important part in ensuring that young people across the region have the opportunities and support to realise their full potential. Importantly, these are all projects which are designed to achieve goals identified by young people themselves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .