COMMUNITY projects that help young people to 'flourish' will benefit from a new £1m funding pot.

Oxfordshire County Council is inviting community and voluntary organisations to apply for a share of the Youth Opportunity Fund, offering grants of up to £70,000.

It is open to groups that provide activities and opportunities for people aged 11-18, or 11-25 for those with special educational needs, and also to people looking to set up such an organisation.

Oxfordshire Youth, a voluntary organisation that supports youth projects, knows of about 200 organisations working with children and young people across the county.

The group's partnership manager David Cruchley said: "Young people are at the heart of their communities.

"Let’s give them more opportunities and support, to decide what type of projects matter and benefit them, their friends, and the whole neighbourhood.

"I’ve witnessed hundreds of teenagers flourish, gaining confidence through leadership responsibilities and collaboration.

"The Youth Opportunity Fund offers the financial seeds for many more successful and varied youth projects across Oxfordshire."

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The council has stressed the importance of community-run groups in bolstering the services it offers, and has expressed a desire for more youth clubs to be founded.

James Fawcett, outgoing chairman of Voice of Oxfordshire's Youth, said: "Investing in young people is so important - I can't wait to see what projects can come out of this."

Several existing youth projects have backed the funding, including Didcot TRAIN, which works to empower young people in the town and reduce antisocial behaviour.

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Youngsters at a Didcot TRAIN outing. Pic via Oxfordshire County Council

Charlotte Jenkins, a youth work facilitator at the organisation, said: "Having witnessed young people’s immense enthusiasm to plan and deliver social action and community-focused projects, it has been clear what confidence and sense of achievement such experiences can cultivate.

"When supported to channel their energy into positive activities, the results can be incredibly inspiring.

"Not only can such opportunities benefit the local area, loosening the often-perceived divides between the generations, but can be so meaningful to young people themselves.

"The Youth Opportunity Fund will be hugely valuable in ultimately helping encourage the realisation in young people of their personal potentials and their motivations to continue making positive choices."

OYAP Trust is a youth arts charity, based in Bicester, which was recently honoured with the Queen’s Award for voluntary service.

Its director, Helen Le Brocq, said: "Our youth action teams develop ‘kindness art projects’ for their wider community.

"Participants are constantly working on bigger and better projects to bring joy to their own towns, whilst developing as individuals.

"It’s about boosting confidence, self-esteem, team working and communication skills."

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Youth Challenge Oxfordshire (YoCO) supports young people aged 14 -21, providing a programme to develop resilience and confidence against challenges such as social media, bullying, and peer pressure.

Its director, Kat Booth, said: "We play an important role in the Oxfordshire community, engaging young people from all backgrounds in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

"They finish the programme with a real excitement of what they have achieved and a new determination to set exciting goals and aspirations.”

Councillor Mark Gray, the county council’s cabinet member for local communities, said: "People in their individual local areas, towns and villages know best what is good for their community and where they’d like to see more on offer.

"This is an exciting scheme, designed to offer teenagers in those communities the chance to have their own space to pursue their own interests, and the company of other young people in a safe environment.

"This fund gives community-based organisations the opportunity to fund staff to work with young people.

"Oxfordshire’s thriving communities share the county council’s ambition to give every child a good start in life, and we are looking forward to working with them with this additional money."

For information on how to bid for funding, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/youthopportunity or email youth.opportunities@oxfordshire.gov.uk.