Funds to aid projects for young people

INVESTMENT . . . Tony Lloyd will be investing £950,000 into youth projects across Greater Manchester

THREE Oldham projects are among groups getting a cash boost to help and protect young people.

Tony Lloyd, the Interim Mayor of Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, has invested £950,000 to raise young people's aspirations, improve their life opportunities, and divert them away from a life of crime.

Among the Oldham projects benefitting are Keeping Our Girls Safe, which will receive £14,200. The voluntary organisation works alongside Oldham Council and the Local Safeguarding Children Board to support girls in the community through peer mentoring and workshops on topics such as grooming, sexual exploitation, healthy relationships, domestic violence, self-awareness, self-esteem and confidence.

Safer Oldham, which runs a structured activity programme for young people at the Pakistani Community Centre, will receive £29,061.

And Failsworth Futures, which provides youth provision and skills building at Mahdlo youth zone, will receive £29,294.

Oldham will also benefit from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service receiving £2,730 for a cadets Talk About Alcohol awareness programme, the Autistic Society getting £28,211 to support autistic young people identified as at risk and the Children's Society receiving £57,628 for support, advice and activities for refugees.

Mr Lloyd said: "Each project is different, but they are all built around the needs of children and young people.

"If we can raise young people's aspirations from a young age; if we can show them that life is worth living and living well, then we can help set them on the right path and encourage them to make positive life decisions."

The projects typically receive funds of between £5,000 and £30,000. They use a mix of drama, sport, mentoring, training, and workshops to help young people make better life choices.

The Youth Aspiration Fund opened for applications in November and 199 applications were received, requesting a total of £3.6 million.

Subject to due diligence checks, nearly £600,000 is to be distributed to 28 Youth Aspiration Fund schemes across Greater Manchester, and £350,000 will be used to sustain seven schemes that have previously received funding and are now making a real difference to the lives of children and young people.