Latest news with #youthproject
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Newcastle youngsters 'heartbroken' by orchard theft
Fruit trees from a community orchard have been stolen, leaving the young people who planted them project by the D2 Youth Zone group in Newcastle's Newbiggin Hall area, aimed to bring nature into the the group, which includes a number of people with social or mental health challenges or who are neurodivergent, found 15 of the 18 trees had been Smith, a youth project manager at D2, said: "To have all that hard work undone by theft is just heartbreaking. The young people are devastated." She said the youngsters often felt they were "being told they're not good enough" and the orchard had been a way of creating opportunities for them to feel proud of themselves by doing "something positive for the community"."Because of the unusually dry weather, the young people carried 18 10-litre buckets of water each week to keep the trees alive."We had plans to train them in tree care and turn this into a lasting legacy." 'Kindness stronger than selfishness' Newcastle City Council is among the organisations that have partnered for the Hay, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council which is involved on the scheme, described the youngsters' achievements as "truly inspiring".He said: "The theft of these trees is deeply disappointing, but it will not take away from the incredible effort and spirit shown by the young people of the D2 Youth Project."We will do everything we can to help rebuild this project and show that kindness and community will always be stronger than selfishness."Northumbria Police has confirmed it is investigating. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Stroud youth worker to walk 60 miles to support young people
A youth worker is taking on a 60-mile sponsored hike to raise awareness of the benefits of the countryside for mental health and to champion those caring for others in the Sandgren-Clarke, 29, from Stroud, is planning to walk from Lechlade to Fairford and then Cirencester before going to Stroud, Stonehouse and Dursley on day Sandgren-Clarke works at The Door youth project which he said provided "vital safe spaces" for young is planning to visit many of the project's youth clubs and communities on the walk which he plans to undertake between Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June. 'Volatile times' Mr Sandgren-Clarke said the project's work across the Stroud District and South Cotswolds offers provision to young people aged between 11 and 25 and their well as safe spaces, it offers positive role models and access to deeper emotional, needs-led support, he added."As a nation we are living in complex and volatile times and young people especially are struggling with their mental health."Mr Sandgren-Clarke previously raised awareness when he took on a 20-hour gaming marathon live on YouTube in said other people from The Door would join him for parts of the walk along with some of the people supported by the project and surprise added that his aim was to support young people to take "positive steps forward and find new hope for a brighter future".
BBC News
08-05-2025
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Police axe project that helped teens transform their lives
A police-run youth project that helped struggling teenagers turn their lives around is being axed due to budget Aston Project was set up in 2011 to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Cheltenham by rewarding young people, who volunteered or joined clubs, with activities such as pony trekking or in bid to plug a £12.3m funding gap, Gloucestershire Police is scrapping the people who benefited from the project are now appealing to the force not to destroy a "beautiful project" that has "filled their lives with happiness" during their tough times. The Aston Project was set up in memory of PC Lynn Aston who died at the age of 48. She dedicated large parts of her career to helping young young person, who was referred to the scheme by their school after "falling out with people" and missing lessons, said it had helped them to "finally" make friends, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).In a letter to Gloucestershire Police, seen by the LDRS, they appealed to the force to "rethink" its decision and to not "take Gloucestershire's best family away"."Life was a struggle and they helped me through," they said. "We're a family. A family that has each other's back because we've all been through the same things one way or another and we know how to comfort each other." Another young teenager, who was referred to the scheme after being picked up in Cheltenham "under the influence of alcohol", said it had given them "opportunities of life" they would "never have thought of having"."I have changed and grown into the young person I am today, all because of Aston," they said."The Aston Project - gets teens out and helps us make the right decisions. That is what we need." But a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police, said the force needs to make £12.3m of savings by the end of the financial year and it can no longer fund activities such as the Aston Project."Senior officers have met with Eamon Aston to explain the situation - and to put on record our thanks for his and his late wife Lynn's dedication to working with young people over the years," they said."While decisions such as these are extremely difficult to make, they are absolutely necessary if we're to deliver the improvements to our services we know we need to make."
