AN ANONYMOUS benefactor has donated £10,000 to a vital project which supports young people facing mental health issues.

For the fourth consecutive year, local project ASPIRE has received funding from an anonymous benefactor that will enable it to continue working with, and supporting, youngsters.

With this contribution of £10,000, more than £48,000 has been donated to the project since 2016.

Volunteer project manager, Arthur Woodgate, said: “All of this funding has come from three sources within our community. We very much appreciate support of whatever nature – the motivation of these local people, who seek no recognition for their generosity but who simply want to help ensure that something that clearly works is able to continue doing so, is quite incredible. We cannot thank them enough.

“You can come up with good ideas and you can throw as much money at it as you like, but if you don’t have the right person in place to make it all possible then it’s not worth much. We do have the right person in our award-winning co-ordinator, Charlotte Storey."

Family outreach worker Ruth Taylor said: "Charlotte is an inspirational personality whose sensitive, non-judgemental, professional approach is life-changing. She open eyes and minds, making the seemingly impossible possible”

Nic Preston, of the Sir John Colfox Academy, added: “Charlotte's counselling, positivity and nurturing has developed a safe environment for young people to explore their own thoughts, feelings and behaviour.”

ASPIRE, previously nominated by West Dorset MP Sir Oliver Letwin for an award from the Centre for Social Justice, was developed by Mr Woodgate in 2009. It is a partnership project between voluntary company BEST (Bridport Enterprise Supporting Training) Ltd and the BYPAT (Bridport Young Persons Action Trust) charity.

For more information, visit a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com