Fund gives youth group new wheels

Friday, 2 December 2022 00:00

Young people from the Bemerton Heath estate are celebrating again after local youth charity Rise:61 secured a grant of £47, 674 from the Youth Investment Fund.

This was a £10M investment by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) for youth provisions in left-behind areas of England.

Rise:61 used this funding to buy a brand new Ford Tourneo Custom that can transport up to 9 people.

The charity has used this new van to take their young people on trips to places like Monkey World and Bournemouth Beach and for activities like mountain biking in Moors Valley and paddle boarding in Mudeford Quay.

They even took six young people to Wales in July to participate in a 5k obstacle colour run! The van is also used weekly to transport materials and tools to their community garden and bike hub projects.

https://youtu.be/3A037pGaW4o Video captures the Rise:61 Summer of 2022

The van was bought at Foray Motor Group’s Edward’s Ford Dealership in Churchfields, which gave the charity nearly £4000 worth of discounts, which they could put to good use by purchasing some new mountain bikes for the youth to use on trips!

Becks Crouch, Creative Hub Manager at Rise:61, said: “The new van we were able to purchase with the funding from DCMS has been a game changer for us and allowed us to expand the horizons of our young people and help them make some great childhood memories.

Seeing how happy they were on the way home from the trips I organised was a real highlight for me of our work in 2022.”

Alex a Young Leader and member of our free after-school bike club, said: ‘The trips are fun and awesome to go on the cool van (luxury type) and the things we do at our chosen destination makes all our plans awesome.’

Rise:61 is dreaming big and hoping to apply to the second phase of the Youth Investment Fund, which could see a much larger grant to build a bespoke new youth hub facility on the estate. You can support the fundraising efforts of the young people themselves for their new youth facility here:

https://gofund.me/95d4f8c0

More from Local News

Tributes paid to Stuart Withers after fatal accident in Salisbury

Tributes are being paid to Stuart Withers, who was knocked down and killed in an accident in Salisbury yesterday (22nd November) morning.
Salisbury's match against Maidstone United is ON

Salisbury's match against Maidstone United this afternoon is ON!
Shops tested on 'Challenge 25 policy' when selling knives

Almost 60% of shops visited by during a week of action focusing on knife crime passed the 'Challenge 25 policy' and didn't sell knives or bladed articles to under-age shoppers.
SEND families invited to online meeting to hear updates on SEND support

Wiltshire Council is inviting families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to participate in an online session as part of the consultation on the funding for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Longleat closed today due to bad weather

Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire will be closed today (Saturday 23 November) due to the forecast of strong winds.
Salisbury MP visits local primary school

Salisbury's MP has visited Winterbourne Earls Primary School and answered children's questions on a range of subjects.
Man in his 70s dies after Exeter Street collision

A man in his 70s has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Salisbury City Centre this morning (22nd November).
Weather Warning: Salisbury set for Heavy Rain this weekend

The Met Office has put a yellow weather warning in place across the area thanks to Storm Bert.