Frome Charity, The Pod has been awarded a three year grant of £30,000 to provide a play and social club for children and young people with additional needs. The funding, from BBC Children in Need will provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can make friends, develop positive social skills, learn life skills and build self-confidence. The Pod runs social clubs for young people with additional needs and young carers.
The new funding award made possible following BBC Children in Needs 2019 appeal in November – will support the delivery of vital services to young people in the area.
Sue Paxton, founder & charity manager, said “We are so pleased to have received funding from BBC Children in Need. This means we can continue to be a supportive hub in the local community and provide a space where young people can meet each week. We aim to encourage families to share experiences and build a positive network of support. Thank you BBC Children in Need!”
Speaking of the new grant Elizabeth Myers, head of impact (South & North) at BBC Children in Need said, ‘its always a real pleasure to award new grants to projects like the Pod youth club especially in these difficult times. At BBC CIN we are dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of young people in local communities – its projects like this that continue to demonstrate how funding benefits young people, and gives them the extra support they need to build a brighter future.
Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC CIN said, ‘At a time when children and young people need our support more than ever, I am incredibly proud to be awarding funding which will go on to positively impact their lives. These grants were only made possible thanks to our remarkable supporters, so a big thank you to everyone who supported us in 2019.’
Following the Big Night in appeal in April which brought BBC CIN and Comic Relief together for the first time. BBC CIN launched a number of dedicated funding programmes to support local charities across the UK who are providing essential help to children and young people during the current crisis.
BBC Children in Need is committed to supporting disadvantaged children and young people who are facing additional challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.