£12k boost for initiative helping disadvantaged young people (From York Press)

£12k boost for initiative helping disadvantaged young people

8:32am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News By Richard Catton, Health reporter

A HUGE cash boost for a York initiative which helps the city’s disadvantaged young people means it is now able to expand its services.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has handed £12,000 to the Scarcroft Project, which is run by York Housing Association and provides accommodation and support for young people who could otherwise be homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Now services are to be expanded to provide training to develop new skills such as literacy and communication to help young people increase their chances of gaining employment.

The project provides supported accommodation for nine people aged between 16 and 19 as well as supporting a further 12 teenagers who live in the local community.

Kate Spencer, York Housing Association operations director, said: “Thanks to this £12,000 grant from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation we are able to expand our services and increase training to these young people most of whom have not had a great start to life.

“The development of these extra services will help us build on the successful outcomes we already have and resettle more people into their own independent accommodation and provide the support they need to grow into successful and happy adults.”

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is a York based charity dedicated to tackling poverty and strengthening local communities.

Now the public is being invited to take a look at the work of the Scarcroft Project as part of York Housing Week organised by City of York Council. The project based at 89 to 91 Scarcroft Road will host the drop-in sessions from noon to 2pm on Wednesday, November 7.