A PROJECT focused on helping young people in Bridport with their mental health struggles has faced its ‘most challenging year.’

The Aspire project supports young people in their times of need – with a particular focus on mental health.

Aspire is now celebrating its 15th anniversary and was founded in 2009.

Initial funding came from a number of sources, including BBC Radio Solent, Comic Relief, and the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) Programme.

For the past eight years, however, Aspire has been funded entirely by donations from within the Bridport community – ‘all anonymous, and all extremely generous.’

An impressive donation of £15,000 has recently been given to the project which will ‘enable their support to continue for the most vulnerable for a further year.’

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

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 problems.

One young woman has seen ‘remarkable results’ after receiving help from Aspire.

She explained that she used to feel ‘unsafe in her childhood home.’

The young woman said: “Charlotte's influence extends beyond mere support; it's a testament to the transformative power of mentorship in shaping the lives of young people facing adversity. Charlotte's mentoring has provided unwavering support and guidance every step of the way.”

Charlotte said: “The last year has probably been the most challenging of all in that so many young people we’re supporting are experiencing extreme social anxiety.”

Issues encountered have included school refusal, bereavement, drug addiction, housing crisis, bullying, obesity, self-harming, and stress-related illnesses. 

Having recently lost the use of her right arm, Charlotte decided to learn to fly a plane.

She is a passionate disability advocate and impressed the Civil Aviation Authority so much, that she was invited to London to give a keynote speech in support of their Equal Skies Charter, under the banner headline “Ensuring the Sky has no Limit,” encouraging others to let nothing stop them from pursuing their aspirations.