Get your skates on and make a difference to young people’s lives

Organisations that work with Dorset’s young people are being urged to get their skates on and bid for funding that could help transform lives.

They have until 14 June to get on board and be in with a chance of securing funding from Dorset Council.

The Dorset Youth Fund helps groups and clubs make a real difference to the young people they work with – including previous recipient, Weymouth Skate Park Association.

The Skate Park Association successfully bid in the last funding round, securing £5,000 to run skateboarding lessons for the town’s young people.

This included working with Wey Valley Academy to give its students the opportunity to try a new creative sport.

Picked by the headteacher, 18 students from the school – some of whom who had never shown an interest in sport – were taught to skateboard by the association.

The skateboarding lessons were hugely popular with many students returning and becoming members.

A similar project was also run with Budmouth School Girls to encourage more girls to try a different sport. The association has since seen a huge increase of uptake from girls.

Lisa Kille from the Weymouth Skatepark Association said: “The Dorset Youth Grant has made a huge difference to us, and more importantly the young people of Weymouth, and I would recommend other organisations bid for it.

“Thanks to the grant we received we have been able to run more free lessons and tailored projects with local schools.

“Our lessons are creative, fun and inclusive and we are incredibly proud that we attract children with a wide range of needs and abilities who discover a new sport and a community they love.

“This funding has meant we can reach even more young people who might not have even considered the benefits skateboarding can bring to their lives.”

Organisations can apply for grants ranging from £500 to £5,000 to deliver youth projects and activities within the Dorset Council area.

Projects must provide positive activities for young people or promote their wellbeing. The money can be used for equipment and staffing costs and projects that ensure young people experience new activities.

Last year 24 projects received funding and a total of 68 grants have been made over the last three years.

This year the bids will go before a panel made up of three young people and three councillors. The panel will be co-chaired by one of the young people alongside Councillor Byron Quayle, portfolio holder for Children’s Services.

Cllr Quayle said: “We are delighted we can support children and young people via our Youth Fund grants.

“The voluntary sector in Dorset does an amazing amount of work to provide activities that enrich the lives of young people.

“The Youth Fund has resulted in many successes like the Weymouth Skate Park Association and we want to see many more.

“We’d love to see applications from across the council area to help make Dorset the best place to be a child.”

Organisations working with young people can find out how to apply for the Dorset Youth Fund, and the eligibility criteria, here.