A CHARITY has awarded nearly £40,000 to Southampton youth groups to help vulnerable young people to learn new skills.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) announced funding to support youngsters in and around Southampton.

The charity is supporting groups teaching technical, behavioural, and communication skills.

The community groups are being supported by the Ford Southampton Community Fund which funds projects that teach 11 to 25 year olds new skills.

Each youth club will receive grants between £1,000 and £6,000.

HIWCF CEO Jacqui Scott said: “We are delighted to be working with Ford to target grants into the areas of our county where they are needed most.

"Trusted non-profits offering employability skills can be life-changing for a young person.

"Especially when they have come from difficult backgrounds or who have struggled with mainstream schooling.

"We’re proud to be working alongside them to create lasting change.”

One community group, Monty's Community Hub in Sholing has been awarded £6,000.

The funding was given to continue the hub's Youth Bikes Project which offers cycling lessons and social networking for young people.

Josh Allen, Project Co-ordinator for Monty’s Bike Hub, said: "We are very grateful to Ford and HIWCF for continuing to fund our Youth Bikes Project.

"This funding will have an amazing impact on local young people from our estate, helping them to learn practical skills as well as being mentored.

"Our young people become part of a community that will support their needs.

"It reduces the likelihood of them being involved in antisocial behaviour and crime.

"We also run activities that get them out of their comfort zone to improve their confidence riding on the roads.

"It helps them get safely and sustainably to college or potential work opportunities."

Drop the Masks in St Marys was awarded £5,864 to support youths that are not in education, employment, or training into work experience placements.

Founding director of the community which provides IT and media services, Greg White, said the funding will create "long-lasting change."

He said: “This grant will allow us to create valuable resources that will help the lives of disadvantaged people that are struggling to find work.

"It will help directly offer employment, vocational training, and experience to one young person from a similar background.”

Other grant awardees include:

Recreation Ground (Test Valley): £5,931.98

Romsey Community School (Eastleigh): £4,956.50

SoCo Music Project (Southampton): £5,758.00

Solent Youth Action (Eastleigh): £5,949.50

Itchen Sixth Form College (Southampton): £5,324

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