Youth Project Secures £41k Grant for Expanded Support

A youth initiative has been awarded a grant of £41,000 to expand its capacity to assist more young individuals. The organization, known as The Rock, concentrates its efforts on aiding young people facing difficulties with their schooling and conducting evening youth activities, in addition to engaging with young people in various locations across Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Mr. Macauly, the operations director, stated that they acknowledge not all young people have access to a youth centre or desire to use one. He elaborated, “It’s a great moment when you arrive at a park and young people have made the effort to go there to meet you.” The “No Child Left Behind” initiative consolidated financial contributions from Cheltenham Borough Homes, which is part of Cheltenham Borough Council, NHS Gloucestershire, and Gloucestershire’s Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). These funds were subsequently made available for organizations to provide detached youth work services within Cheltenham. The Rock’s operations are concentrated in three specific areas: The Moors in St Peter’s, St Paul’s, and the town centre. To date, the project has utilized resources such as mobile sports activities as a means of connection, alongside guiding young people towards making healthy lifestyle choices. Victoria Atherstone, Cheltenham Borough Council’s cabinet member for safety and communities, commented that The Rock submitted “a fantastic application” for the funding. She further stated, “[The council] recognised we did need to focus more on detached youth work to meet young people in the environments they’re actually at,” adding, “The town centre, St Paul’s and St Peter’s are three specific areas we’re honing in on to support young people.”