Courier readers step up for Warwickshire’s disadvantaged young people

Support for young people in Warwickshire has been given a celebratory boost - thanks in part to a letter published in the Courier.
Members of the Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.Members of the Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
Members of the Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

We published a letter from the Warwickshire Association of Youth Club’s (WAYC) chairman Chris Cox in March, which let readers know about the association’s ‘Give 60’ campaign to raise £60,000 in 2014, the year it celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Since then, the charity - which provides funding to youth support projects and clubs across the county - has recruited 12 mentors to provide one-to-one support to young people, including Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White. And some 20 volunteers have been taken on to help with photography, publicity, human resources, youth club volunteers and young volunteers.

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Since the letter was published, the association has received £7,000 of donations - including £457 from Chris White, who ran the Two Castles Run earlier this month for WAYC, while JET petrol, which is also celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, offered to sponsor WAYC’s annual dinner and auction in December.

The association’s fundraising and marketing manager Cath Errington said: “We have been delighted at the response. We are already a quarter of the way towards our £60,000 target.

“Our network of volunteers have a wealth of experience from all walks of life to offer. All money raised will be used to support young people who are finding life a challenge, whether because of bullying, unemployment, family break-up or problems with mental ill health.”

Celebrations are ongoing, with forthcoming events including a WAYC Youth Arts Fest at the Welcombe Centre in Coventry on July 19, a quiz night at Victoria House in Leamington on October 17 and the WAYC annual dinner and auction at the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick on December 5. To find out more, visit www.wayc.org.uk

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