A YOUTH project in Chester has been handed an £85,000 Lottery grant to get youngsters involved in looking after their estate.
Blacon Junior Youth Inclusion Project won the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces money as it part of an £8.5 million award to its parent organisation Crime Concern.
The five year Community Space Challenge scheme will attempt to get children, who are at risk of going off the rails, involved in making decisions about the needs of their own environment.
They will also pick up qualifications for the environmental work.
Activities at Blacon Junior YIP will include video and photography projects looking at what needs doing in Blacon, development of a local cycle path and recycling projects.
Sam Dutton, jYIP project manager said: “This gives these young people a golden opportunity to receive qualifications for making a positive contribution to their environment and community.
“This can be used to improve employment opportunities, increase their self-esteem and in turn improve perceptions of young people.”
Rosie Chadwick, of Crime Concern, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to take the lead in improving Blacon’s public spaces – something we know many young people feel passionately about.”
The project is being run by Encams, The Prince’s Trust, Youth Justice Board and Changemakers.
