TWO York charity projects will benefit from awards of more than £34,000 from the BBC’s Children in Need.

The grants will help York Carers Centre and York Mind fund projects to provide services to young people across the city and bring Children in Need’s total local investment to more than £300,000.

York Carers Centre will use its three-year grant of £24,660 to deliver a six-week summer holiday activity programme to young carers.

The project will help combat isolation and loneliness, enabling youngsters to have fun and build friendships, confidence and self-esteem.

Manager Carole Zagrovic said: “We’re delighted with this new grant from BBC Children in Need.

“Children and young people with caring responsibilities lead quite emotionally complex lives as their responsibilities have an impact on their education, childhood and friendships, which can leave them feeling very isolated.

“Our project helps to combat these issues, by improving their emotional resilience and life skills and raising their aspirations for the future.”

In addition, York Mind has received a grant of £10,000, which will enable it to deliver peer support group sessions for young people experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

The sessions will give them the chance to engage with others going through similar experiences and develop positive strategies while increasing their resilience.

The project works with youngsters in their recovery to help them increase confidence and self-esteem, develop independence and encourage them to engage in mainstream activities.

Children in Need regional head, Elizabeth Myers, said: “It’s always a real privilege to award new grants to projects like York Carers Centre and York Mind, which demonstrate how our small grants programme makes a positive difference to children and young people’s lives.”

Across York, Children in Need, is currently funding nine projects to a total of £302, 649.

Chief executive Simon Antrobus said: “Thanks to our generous supporters, our small grants programme can and does make a significant and lasting impact on young lives."