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Cheltenham’s youth project The Rock selected for £41k grant
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Cheltenham’s youth project The Rock selected for £41k grant

A youth project has been given a £41,000 grant so they can help more young people.

Rock’s work focuses on helping young people in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as well as supporting young people who are struggling with school and carrying out evening youth work.

Operations director Mr Macauly said they were aware that not every young person could or would want to access a youth centre.

“It’s a great moment when you arrive at a park and young people make an effort to get there to meet you,” he explained.

No Child Left Behind brought together funding from Cheltenham Borough Homes under Cheltenham Borough Council, NHS Gloucestershire and the Office of the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), which was then made available to organizations to deliver independent youth work services in Cheltenham.

Rock’s work focuses on three identified areas: the Moors at St Peter’s, St Paul’s and the city centre.

So far, the project has helped young people make healthy lifestyle choices, as well as using opportunities such as mobile sports activities as a connection point.

Victoria Atherstone, Cheltenham Council’s cabinet member for safety and communities, said The Rock had a “fantastic application” for the grant.

“(The council) recognized that we needed to focus more on independent youth work to meet young people in the environments they actually are in,” he said.

“The city centre, St Paul’s and St Peter’s are three specific areas we are focusing on to support young people.”