SUPPORT for struggling young people in Bridport will continue thanks to a £15,000 donation from an anonymous source.

The long-established ASPIRE project will now be able continue its work for a further year.

The free service, established in 2010, aims to support young people struggling with life and its demands.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the project has received funding from the community.

Voluntary project manager Arthur Woodgate thanked the anonymous donors “for their kind and extremely generous contribution of £15,000”.

Initial funding for the project came from a variety of sources including Children in Need, Comic Relief, BBC Radio Solent, and the Prince’s Trust.

Mr Woodgate said: “However much this was appreciated. The need to reach beyond boundaries set by many funders became obvious. Support from within our own community has meant we’ve been able to work closely with organisations as diverse as the NHS and local primary schools.”

This entirely anonymous support has meant that since 2018 the ASPIRE project has been able to work independently to offer free support to children, young people and families in need.

“ASPIRE works, and works well,” stated Mr Woodgate, adding that without the dedication and outstanding talents of Project Coordinator Charlotte Storey, is was unlikely that such an ambitious project could have worked at all.

ASPIRE, previously commended to the Centre for Social Justice, is a partnership between not-for-profit company Bridport Enterprise Supporting Training and the BYPAT (Bridport Young Persons’ Action Trust) Charity.

In a new development, and with the backing of local schools, the partnership is teaming up with Bridport Leisure Centre towards providing free places at their annual Summer Camp, including free meals, for children in need of support.

A five week programme starts on Monday, July 25 with funding received from Dorset Council's Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) budget. Support for individuals will be provided via the ASPIRE Project.

For more information about ASPIRE email a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com or r.burton@bridportleisure.com