An Ellesmere Port based charity is to have the shared use of a £20,000 Vauxhall minibus to help transport young people who take part in its programmes.

Youth Fed, in the Rossmore Business Village, Inward Way, is one of the north west’s leading youth charities directly supporting 5,000 young and vulnerable people aged from eight to 25 years every year.

Thanks to the votes of workers in the town’s Vauxhall plant it will have the use of the 17 seater minibus during school holidays.

Birkenhead Park’s Forest School, currently being rolled out in Wirral parks by Wirral Rangers, will operate the minibus during term time.

Youth Fed will use the smart white vehicle to help transport those taking part in National Citizen Service, the Government scheme which helps young people aged 15 – 17 to develop new skills, meet new people and make a difference to the community.

Overall the charity exists to enrich the lives of young people and runs a number of programmes across Wirral, Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.

These includes education, pre-employment and mentoring initiatives which directly benefit local young people.

Chris Hindley, its chief executive officer, said. “Youth Federation has been delivering the NCS project since 2011 and since this time over 5,000 young people have participated on the programme and have supported over 200 charities and organisations across the region.

“We are delighted that Vauxhall Motors has recognises the value of the Youth Fed and NCS and we are extremely grateful to all the employees at the Ellesmere Port plant for nominating our charity.”

Cherie Denton, Vauxhall’s community coordinator, commented: “When Vauxhall places a vehicle we want it to be used to support as many young people as possible.

“This joint partnership with Youth Federation and Wirral Forest Schools will mean that the Vauxhall Movano will be put to good use.”

The donation is part of Vauxhall Motors ‘Grace and Favour’ fleet which benefits youth-related charities through the long and short term loan of vehicles.

Vauxhall employees nominate youth charities within their geographical area who are then judged on the number of people they help each year and the service they provide.