A SCHEME that has supported hundreds of young people in Hampshire has received almost £500,000 of lottery funding. 

The Next Steps project was started five years ago by No Limits, with fellow charities Youth Options and Southampton Voluntary Services, now after a £499,945 cash injection from the Big Lottery Fund, it is secure for the next three years.

The project aims to provide one-to-one and group support to young care leavers, carers and young offenders who are going through transitions in their lives.

The collaboration brings together the knowledge and skills of the three voluntary agencies and relevant statutory partners to support vulnerable people under the age of 26. 

No Limits CEO, Annabel Hodgson said: "We are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Big Lottery Fund for the continuation of the Next Steps project.

"The project is a valuable service for young people in Southampton and has a proven track record of achieving positive outcomes for young people who are carers, care leavers or offenders." 

The three year funding for Next Steps will start in March and will be delivered across Southampton.

Funding will be spent on staffing, training, running expenses, equipment, as well as skill building activities and overnight trips. 

The scheme allows people to have better access to training and development to improve the skills they need to live independently or to re-integrate into family life, and pursue education and work. 

The project aims to provide employment training including CSCS training and tests. 

Referrals to the project come from the youth offending service and care leavers team, as well as from No Limits. 

Forty-four projects cross the South East have received funding £1.2 million this week:
These include:

  • £10,000: St Mark's C.E School, Shirley 

The funding will be used to install an outdoor play area with surfacing at the school for use outside of lesson time, which will encourage more healthy activities.

  • £10,000: The West Paulsgrove Scout & Community Association, Fareham

A kitchen upgrade will enable the organisation to provide lunch club and drop in activities for pre-school children, older people and wider community groups. 

  • £9,983: Leonard Cheshire Disability, Fryers House, Romsey

The funding will purchase and install a projection system called the Magic Carpet that displays a programme of interactive images to support the therapeutic needs of adults with severe disabilities. 

  • £7,575: Mottisfont Village Hall Association

Funding will be used to install new kitchen facilities, purchase white goods and small kitchen appliances in their local village hall for the benefit of people within the local community.