A youth project which coordinates mental health services for young people in Douglas has been awarded a funding windfall.
The Rock Solid group work with teenagers and families in the east end of the city, with the aim of improving mental and physical wellbeing across the community.
They have just been granted £55,527 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Our Place initiative, which will be used to provide mental health, youth counselling and training for youngsters who benefit from the service.
Rock Solid use fashion, music and drama workshops and sports events to build self-esteem, improve physical fitness and develop new skills through accredited training.
Neil Campbell, director of Rock Solid youth project, said the secured funding would allow for specialist youth mental health counselling to be brought in to the unit when it is required.
He said: “Mental health is an increasingly vital issue for young people today.
“By providing young people in the Douglas community with local access to activities aimed at improving wellbeing and access to specialist youth counselling when required, we hope to see an improvement in mental health across the community.
“This project is an excellent example of local partners working together for the benefit of the community and I’m delighted the Big Lottery Fund have chosen to support this initiative.”
Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair Maureen McGinn said: “I am delighted that the people of Douglas will continue to benefit from Our Place funding.
“Our Place empowers local people to bring about a positive lasting difference to their neighbourhood by giving them a say on how National Lottery money is spent in their area.
“I would like to congratulate the Rock Solid Youth Project on their successful funding award, and look forward to hearing more as their project progresses.”
Rock Solid was established in 2013 and works with young people between the ages of 10 and 24.
The group recently celebrated becoming an accredited Living Wage employer,
