Cheque Presentation

Chelmer Housing Partnership Charitable Trust presents cheque for £10,000 to Essex Association of Boys Clubs.

21/9/06

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Chelmer Housing Partnership’s Charitable Trust will present a cheque for £10,000 to ‘Respect’, a four month programme organised by Essex Association of Boys Clubs for young people in Chelmsford in danger of falling out of school. The presentation will be made to pupils from St Peter’s College, St John Payne Catholic School and Hylands School, as well as two Chelmsford based Police Community Support Officers, Sue Pell (Project Co-ordinator), and Keith Andrew from the CHP Charitable Trust Board.

The ‘Respect’ project aims to help young people realise their potential and consists of activity days, evenings and an overnight camp for young people, as well as a week of outdoor adventurous activities in the Lake District. Aiming to promote confidence and improve self-esteem, Sue Pell, ‘Respect’ Co-ordinator, explains: “Through taking part in the project and the outdoor activities, participants learn to work as a team and gain a tremendous sense of achievement. Evidence shows that they become more engaged in education and learning as a result of what happens to them during this project. It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people who may be at risk of disengaging with school, or perhaps live in areas of relatively high crime statistics, to achieve something they previously thought impossible. This might be walking away from an argument, avoiding negative peer pressure, climbing a mountain in the Lake District, or eating good wholesome food as part of a group.”

The cheque will be handed over by Keith Andrew from the Chelmer Housing Partnership. Keith says: “Projects like these are few and far between, but when we do see an opportunity to make a lasting difference to young people’s lives, we jump at it! The CHP Charitable Trust evaluates every request for funding with great care to ensure it meets our criteria but the benefits from this particular project are indisputable.”

Ends.
Editors Notes:

• For more information contact Victoria Norton: 01245 613111, 07709 334403, victoria.norton@chelmerhp.org.uk

• CHP Charitable Trust was established in March 2003 by a gift aid from Chelmer Housing Partnership

• The Trust helps facilitate community development in Essex neighbourhoods

• It works in partnership to add value to community based projects and help improve people’s quality of life

• It aims to benefit both existing and potential tenants and service users of CHP by providing sustainable development.

The Trust’s objectives are:

• To provide youth facilities

• To enhance skills

• To promote healthy living

• To tackle financial exclusion

For further information on recent grant awards visit the website at www.chelmerhp.org.uk