Nine community organisations across Warwickshire have been awarded a total of more than £480,000 to help support young people by increasing youth work.
Warwickshire County Council’s Youth Work Fund is aimed at community and voluntary groups that provide services for 11-18-year-olds.
The funding will be used in a variety of ways to support projects and initiatives which tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour, alcohol misuse, alcohol related hospital admissions, bladed weapon use, drug related offences and child exploitation.
The Bradby Youth Club will use the funding to employ a fulltime youth worker to develop two extra sessions of youth work in Rugby, allowing four sessions a week including open access at the youth club and work on the street. This would also provide access to more intensive support to young people who are at risk or involved in exploitation and county lines – a term used to describe criminal gangs who move illegal drugs from big cities to smaller towns.
John Robertson, Bradby Youth Club, said: “We are so grateful for Warwickshire County Council’s Youth Work Funding. This funding will make a huge difference in the lives of local young people as we increase and improve Bradby’s youth work offer. For a voluntary organisation, two years funding is a rare and welcome relief to the constant struggle to acquire continued funding. This now enables us to increase youth workers and increase youth work and work towards tackling key issues affecting young people’s futures and prospects.”