As part of its ongoing commitment to help its customers lead resilient lives, Riverside Foundation, the charitable arm of Riverside is providing £20,000 funding to Petteril Bank Youth Project in Cumbria

 The Youth Project on Petteril Bank Estate in Carlisle  has been running for 8 years and is the only provider of youth activities on the estate offering young people from 8–19 years a place to come to in the evenings for free. When they approached Riverside for funding the project manager’s hours had been reduced by half due to a lack of funding, having major impact on the project which was in danger of closure.

Riverside manages over 400 homes on Petteril Bank Estate. Local authority data shows that nearly half of children in this area live in poverty. This is not only the highest in Carlisle but the whole of Cumbria. Almost 25% of households have an income below £10,000 with many families in low paid employment or zero hour contracts. In addition 45% of residents do not have access to a vehicle, meaning there is a need for services on the estate.*

Karen Clarkson, Youth Project Manager says “We currently work with 50 local children and youths, the more we can engage with the better we can help meet their needs. The centre provides a safe and secure place for them to be themselves ”

Charlotte Wolstenholme, 21, one of the project workers said “There are lots of activities like pool, table football, keyboards, arts and crafts, board games, Xbox – something for everyone. We also organise trips during school holidays as many of the youngsters don’t get off the estate. We recently took 37 children ice skating in Dumfries. I really love working with the youngsters here and look forward to the sessions myself.”

Lisa Connor, Riverside Foundation says. “We are proud to be supporting this local project and really value all the work the team do on this estate for young people and their families.

Canon Jim Hyslop, Chair of The Youth Project said “The Petteril Bank Youth Project are very grateful for the help given to us by Riverside Foundation.  Getting funding is never easy and help in finding funds to support this project is vitally important.  Our aim is to do all we can for the young people of Petteril Bank and this will enable us to continue such work.”

*Source Cumbria Local Authority Data cumbriaoberservatory.org.uk