Event celebrates scheme which brought £700,000 into the county for young

Herefordshire Council is supporting an event organised by young people to celebrate a scheme which has brought £700,000 into the county for youth projects.

The Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital funds were set up five years ago to encourage young people to get involved in making a difference to the lives of other young people.  Youngsters were encouraged to work together, create ideas and bid for funds to turn their ideas into reality.

During the lifetime of the fund, a panel of 12 young people has approved 320 applications to fund positive activities for young people across the county.  The projects funded range from the large and well known skate park on Holmer Road, Hereford to many smaller projects such as first aid training for young parents and young carers.

To celebrate this success, a showcase event has been organised on Wednesday February 23 from 4-7pm in the Main Hall at the Royal National College for The Blind in Hereford.  Organisers expect to see young people enjoying performances from 2faced Dance, DJ Lofty and the Hereford Youth Theatre, to name a few.  Herefordshire’s very own Bush Tucker Trials will be there to tempt adventurous appetites and a whole range of activities, projects and other beneficiaries will be there with photos, displays and presentations to show the audience where the money has been spent and how young people have benefitted as a result.  There even promises to be a Tug of War battle before awards and speeches at the end of the show.

“I am looking forward to meeting representatives from all the projects,” said Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet members for children’s services.  “The young people have worked tirelessly to organise activities for other young people and we’ve seen some incredible benefits as a result. 

“We are sad to see the fund come to an end but want to celebrate all that has been achieved.  Not only has it brought much needed cash to youth projects in Herefordshire, but it has empowered our young people to have a say in activities they want to see in Herefordshire, and to get involved in providing them too.”