Cash boost for project to help homeless young people

A project aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of young homeless people has received a cash boost.

Rise, which aims to help young people in Tyne and Wear, has received a £75,000 grant from the London Marathon Charitable Trust.

They will use the money to establish the Young People Forward project to work directly with 80 young people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness while also developing a programme that can be rolled out to inspire activity in many more.

Andrew Tunnah, empowering people strategic lead at

Rise, said: “We are very excited to be part of this exciting project that will use sport and physical activity as a catalyst to support homeless young people to face the challenges in their life.

"At Rise, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle to boost their health and happiness, particularly those how need it most. We are very grateful for the backing of Virgin Money and The London Marathon Charitable Trust.”

Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of The London Marathon Charitable Trust, said: “The Trust is committed to supporting projects that challenge the inequality of access to physical activity so that everyone has the opportunity to be active, supporting their health and wellbeing.

"It is with great thanks to Virgin Money for their generous donation that we have been able to work together to support this important initiative.

"The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the inequalities faced by many vulnerable people, and the Young People Forward project will use the power of physical activity to improve the lives of young people.”