AN ANONYMOUS benefactor has donated £1,000 to a project supporting young people in Ashbourne.
The ACE Youth Worker Trust helps fund youth workers in the town and is about to launch a new mentoring project for teenagers.
The trust offers leisure activities for young people, including activity days and youth clubs, as well as working in partnership with churches and schools in the Ashbourne area.
The organisation is set to start training the first volunteer mentors for it’s ACE 1-2-1 scheme in April.
Mentors will be offered full training and support before being matched with young people to offer them support.
Stuart Green is chairman of the ACE Youth Worker Trust. He said: “The donation comes as ACE is about the embark on the next stage of the ACE 1-2-1 Mentoring Project. “Mentoring has become an important strategy for supporting young people particularly those aged 16 to 19 who are not in education, training or employment.
“It offers a form of professional friendship and is a positive way of bridging the transition from school to employment or further education for the young person where access to public services is limited.
“Most young people find it to be a positive experience that contributes to their confidence, skills and development in a number of ways.”
The project, which will see volunteers given training before dedicating three to five hours each month to supporting young people, was boosted last week by the anonymous donation, which was sent to the group with a letter which read: “I have been very impressed by the support that ACE has provided for young people in the Ashbourne area.
“I would encourage other individuals and businesses to consider making a donation to help ACE expand their work.”
ACE Youth Worker Trust is a registered charity which has been working with youngsters from the age of 11 and 19 since 2007.
The trust works within the catchment area of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and in partnership with the school and other organisations.
Mr Green added: “This generous donation will make a huge difference on our work.
“It will be used to fund professional training and support for ACE 1-2-1 volunteer mentors.”
More information about the work of ACE Youth Worker Trust and the volunteer mentor project is available by contacting Mr Green by telephone on 01335 300338 or by email at aceyouth@gmail.com.
ACE Youth Worker Trust also received a £2,000 donation from global car brand Toyota in February through the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust.
