Youth project wins £170,000 funding (From Penarth Times)

Youth project wins £170,000 funding

PENARTH Youth Project has successfully bid for lottery funds to maintain services and develop others.

The money will total more than £170,000, to be given over three years, which will help to pay for the running of the centre.

The project aims to help young people from 11 to 25 with anything they need to know. Lisa Fundalski, 15, of Grove Place, Penarth, said: "I do lots of activities here and I helped to arrange a trip to Port Island. We had to raise the funds and sort out all the food menus. It's great because I can do my homework here."

Rhys Brinkworth, 12, of Penarth, said he likes going on organised trips and using the computers.

Anna Jones, the centre manager, said staff always try to point callers in the right direction even if they themselves cannot help.

Many workers at the project are volunteers who are trained to give advice and help where needed.

There are many facilities at the centre including the internet which is free to use for 30 minutes, while computers can be accessed for homework at no cost.

There is a counselling service and also workshops to help with application forms and CVs. Extended Entitlement Readings are used to categorise the needs of 11 to 25-year-olds. This system uses ten titles, such as education, health and money, so young people can look for what they need.

The centre trains young people to talk to their peers about issues they may not want to talk to an adult about.

And this is part of the Peer Support Wales project supported by the Princes Trust.

Penarth Youth Project is based at The Information Shop, 1a Stanwell Road, Penarth, and is open 11am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 12pm to 7pm Tuesday and Thursday.