A voluntary community company is celebrating after winning a commission of more than £12,000.

Bridport Enterprise Support-ing Training Ltd (BEST) is receiving the money for the well-established Aspire project to help young people into work, training and education.

Aspire has been operating for more than four years and has been previously funded by such organisations as Comic Relief, BBC Radio Solent, West Dorset District Council and the Youth Opportunity Fund.

The commission has been awarded from Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole’s Skills and Learning organisation and the funding supports informal learning in the community.

Project designer Arthur Woodgate said: “Aspire has often exceeded set targets and, more importantly, has guided many into employment, further education, and training.

“Skills and Learning BDP have provided consistent support to our work, and without this we may not have been able to continue.”

Arthur explained that the particular strengths of Aspire were its flexibility of approach, the quality of training, and the consistency of support for those taking part.

He added: “This includes practical support, something often lacking. This can include helping to fund courses, buying work clothes and equipment, help with transport – an issue in a rural area – and the free loan of laptops.”

Arthur claims the main reason for Aspire’s outstanding success is the co-ordinator and award-winning tutor, Charlotte Storey, who has been praised by participants in the scheme.

Working with a number of agencies across West Dorset has also enabled more people to benefit, claims Ruth Taylor, who is Dorset County Council’s family outreach worker.

She said: “Our recent collaboration with the Aspire/BEST project has been one of the most inspirational, positive and successful unions with an outside agency that the Bridport Young Parent Group has ever been involved with – opening eyes and minds and making the seemingly impossible possible.”

For more information email a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com or call 01308 423767.