A Bridport youth project has received a £15,000 donation, meaning it can continue for another year.

The ASPIRE Project is a free service that provides support for local young people struggling with life - and will now continue into its 15th year, following the donation.

The service is a dual partnership between voluntary company Bridport Enterprise Supporting Training Ltd (BEST), and the charity Bridport Young Persons’ Action Trust (BYPAT).

With its focus on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, ASPIRE has also previoulsy been nominated for an award from the Centre for Social Justice.

Founded in 2009, with funding from BBC Radio Solent, Comic Relief and Dorset County Council, the project became independent in 2017, and now runs entirely because of generous and anonymous donations.

This support continues, with a recent donation of £15,000 enabling the project to continue for a further year until August 2024, and for which the organisers have expressed their immense gratitude.

During lockdown, ASPIRE continued its support for young people and now, in a post-pandemic world, it has chosen to adapt its own working practices.

Award-winning coordinator, Charlotte Storey, who runs the project, was always conscious that people would find it hard once lockdowns ended, and predicted that there would be a ’massive spike’ in mental health.

ASPIRE therefore evolved to provide the best possible service it can to those who need it, and deliver it in a way that is comfortable to them.

Charlotte said: “Support that’s accessible when buildings are closed, without time constraints and, given the vulnerability of these young people, total confidentiality.

"Basically, they told us they wanted a self-referring, 365 day a year service, with no time limit on engagement hours.  This is exactly what we provide, and it works.”

The project has therefore moved away from face-to-face appointments and now has a digital space where young people can feel safe.

Support sessions for individuals are now taking place more and more often on the internet and this has enabled the sessions to sometimes expand to includefamily members to join in.

There is also a weekly 'team meeting' involving young people, who chose to join, which helps to build a community of mutual support amongst those who are experiencing similar issues.

For more information contact a.c.woodgate@btinternet.com