Highclife School and Somerford Youth and Community Centre youth projects win BCP Council funding

PROJECTS helping young people in Highcliffe and Somerford are set to benefit from thousands of pounds worth of help from BCP Council.

As part of the authority’s Youth Fund, it invited local schemes to apply for up to £10,000, with Highcliffe School and Somerford Youth and Community Centre submitting winning bids.

The Highcliffe project will support 14 students to engage in training that will help develop career paths linked to the environment.

The Somerford centre will set up a scheme to support a group of children transitioning from year 6 to 7 to be involved in the youth committee and attain a bronze Youth Medal Achievement award.

And Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service won funding to deliver a course to give 12 local young people the opportunity to gain an AQA Award in Fire Services Training.

The fund aims to support youngsters aged up to 18, or those who have special educational needs or a disability or care leavers aged up to 25.

Cllr Mike White, who holds the BCP Council portfolio for children and young people, said: "We were delighted with the number of amazing opportunities that were presented to us and found it extremely hard to choose between them."

"We believe that the extra funding will provide invaluable experiences for local young people in areas such as mental health, environment and youth voice."