The Gateshead Housing Company has helped to fund a weekly music group for young people in South Gateshead.
The £4,400 grant has enabled Birtley Community Association to deliver the music group on Tuesday evenings for 11-19 year olds.
The grant comes from the Gateshead Housing Company’s Community Fund held by the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
The music group is run by a combination of volunteers and qualified youth workers from North East Youth and attracts up to 30 participants each week.
Working primarily with youngsters from the social housing estates of Elisabethville and Portmeads, the group aims to engage with otherwise hard-to-reach young people who would benefit from youth worker interaction.
The Birtley Community Centre on Ravensworth Road in the Elisabethville Estate is a registered charity and runs a range of activities for people of all ages in Birtley. More than 700 people participate in the centre’s activities each year.
Carol Smith from Birtley Community Association said: “The Musical Youth programme is making a huge difference to the lives of young people who live in this area of South Gateshead.
“By encouraging young people to interact through music, our youth workers and volunteers can reach out to those who will benefit from extra support.”
Chris Hardy, Estate Officer at The Gateshead Housing Company said: “It’s great to see young people benefitting from the Community Fund.
“The group is making a big difference to young people in Birtley and this funding will enable more young people to get involved in the music programme.”
Jon Goodwin, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation, was pleased to make the grant. He said: “Supporting activity that improves the health and wellbeing of young people from the housing company’s estates is one of the key priorities for the fund. The fund has made grants of nearly half a million pounds over the last ten years with more than 100 community groups benefitting.”
To find out more about Birtley Community Association email: birtleycommunityassociation@yahoo.co.uk or call: 0191 410 2343