Latest news with #BenDrabble
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Youth charity works with council to promote young voices
A youth charity has teamed up with South Oxfordshire District Council to deliver a number of projects this year. Didcot TRAIN is working with the council's Didcot Garden Town team to ensure young people have an influence on work being delivered in the town. Ben Drabble, CEO at Didcot TRAIN, said: "Our youth club's been buzzing. "Paint, plants, music, ideas flying everywhere. Our young people stepped up, got creative and left their mark on Didcot. "We're proud of what they've made and how they've made it happen. Big thanks to South Oxfordshire District Council for believing in the power of youth work." The partnership is supporting the Didcot Garden Party, a summer programme that highlights health, wellbeing, active lifestyles, and sustainability. As part of this programme, an artist has been commissioned to work with young people on a public art display at Cornerstone Arts Centre. Didcot TRAIN and Sustainable Didcot also helped to install recycled steel planters and reclaimed hardwood benches outside Cornerstone. The artwork in a window at Cornerstone (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) A Didcot TRAIN workshop with artist Tom McLean (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) Nine young people from Didcot recently embarked on a three-day sailing adventure across the Solent, accompanied by youth workers from TRAIN. The trip was funded through the district council's Councillor Community Grant Scheme. Councillor Tony Worgan, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "It's fantastic to see such creative and collaborative projects taking shape in Didcot. "By working closely with Didcot TRAIN and other local partners, we're not only investing in our public spaces but also empowering young people."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thames Valley proceeds of crime help fund young people's charity
A charity that provides mentoring to young people who have previously been involved in anti-social behaviour has benefitted from a grant funded by money reclaimed from charity Train Youth was successful twice in 2024 in acquiring a grant from the Thames Valley community fund, which is organised by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).The fund relocates proceeds raised through the sale of items seized from criminals to community groups and charities across the Drabble, the charity's chief executive, said he "can't think of a better use" for the proceeds than "reinvesting them in community in organisations like Train and helping young people". Georgina Dawson, who is a mentor with the charity, said it was "really helpful" to show the "wider community and our young people" where the funding has come from."We can actually break down any sort of stigma there is between the police and young people," she said."It's turning something that came from crime into something really positive and that has further impact." More than £200,000 of grants have been awarded to 38 organisations as part of the latest round of funding announced earlier this Barber, Thames Valley PCC, said communities would benefit from the most recent round of funding through "projects which align with a number of key policing priorities".Among others selected to receive between £250 and £10,000 are The Slough Job Creation Hub, Windsor Christian Action Homeless Project and Youth Challenge which received two grants in 2024, also runs youth clubs across south Oxfordshire and has about 600 young people engaging with its services each Drabble said there were "fewer and fewer spaces available" to young people, meaning that having a place like Train where they "can't get into trouble" and can "interact with positive role models" was "vitally important".Teenager Ellie, who uses Train, said it had made her "more confident and happier"."It made me feel like I could talk to somebody and be myself, and I quite liked that," she teen Louie added that it was "just good vibes", as there were "people here you can talk to about literally anything". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
