West Kent YMCA is celebrating after being awarded a £218,000 Big Lottery Fund grant for their mobile youth project Vehicle 4 Change (V4C).
The project uses a specially equipped and accessible vehicle to deliver training, resources and support to isolated young people aged 13-25 across West Kent.
Sir Jonathan Evans, former head of MI5 and patron of West Kent YMCA, launched the initial V4C project four years ago. He said: “When many young people are struggling, affected by recession, family breakdown or poor transport links, I am delighted we can restart V4C to help young people on their journey to seek jobs, training, self-confidence, housing and hope.”
Carole Wake, chair of trustees, added: “We are delighted to be recruiting a team of staff and apprentices to work with young people as young people helped us design, develop and refine the V4C concept.”
The Big Lottery funding for V4C will be distributed over three years and will be combined with additional grants from the Henry Smith Charitable Trust and the Garfield Weston Foundation.