Funding plea to youngsters

Young people in Dudley are being reminded that they can get involved in a project which gives them the chance to influence how more than £300,000 of funding for the borough will be spent.

Youngsters between the ages of 13 and 19 have until September 21 to lodge their bids for cash for their community through the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) and Youth Capital Fund (YCF).

In total £338,000 is available through the project which aims to give youngsters a bigger say on how they think money should be used.

They can get involved in all aspects of the scheme by being able to both apply for the money and help decide where it should go.

It is the second year of the two-year programme, which aims to place responsibility in the hands of young people to let them decide what activities or facilities they need in their local communities, and fund more things to do and places to go.

When the scheme first launched last year more than 200 applications were handed in and a panel of 12 teenagers allocated money to a projects supported by voluntary and statutory youth groups.

They included Me2, the Youth Empowerment Scheme, Sedgley Squadron ATC and Meadow Road Youth Centre.

Young people in Dudley borough can apply for up to £500 to do projects which will give young people more things to do and places to go.

For more information call Jody Pritchard, active citizenship programme manager, on 01384 815172.