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£1.4m funding will be used to give young people in Middlesbrough 'lifetime experiences'. The National Lottery Community Fund announced the large investment in youth service

providers in the town. Mayor Chris Cooke has also launched the Middlesbrough Childhood Guarantee, which includes a pilot of a ‘10 by 10’ programme that would provide free access to 10

lifetime experiences for all children by the age of 10. Swimming lessons, team sports, learning a musical instrument and tickets to live music and theatre will all feature as part of a drive

to raise aspirations and break down barriers for young people. Middlesbrough Council will invest £250,000 in the scheme, which will also see the Bring it on Boro school holiday clubs

extended across further weeks. A number of primary schools will be included in a pilot scheme for Ten by Ten. Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “Nothing is more important to me than the

future of our young people. I’m extremely grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund. Their support can genuinely be life changing. The fund is making a serious investment in

organisations that do so much positive work for our communities. “At the same time, we’re launching the Middlesbrough Childhood Guarantee and introducing 10 by 10, pledging to make it easier

for families to give children the experiences they might otherwise miss out on. “Working with the trial schools we are looking forward to our student testers taking part over the summer.

We’re working hard to put in place support and opportunities for children of all backgrounds. I’m determined to make our town a positive place to grow up in and somewhere young people

believe they can build a successful future.” The lottery funding is designed to reduce inequalities and improve life chances. It comes after the publication of data that showed parts of

Middlesbrough are among the worst affected by child poverty in the UK. The Junction, Youth Focus North East, Actes Trust and Linx Youth Project will work directly with young people and their

families across the town. In addition, Tees Valley Education will work with younger children and their families in primary schools. The range of support covers the early years through to

young adulthood. The funded programmes include specialist careers advice to help young people find jobs, work experience in specific industries and extra youth clubs suitable for different

ages. The support will also help combat specific issues such as sleep inequalities by providing beds to families through partnerships with Zarach and The Sleep Charity. Duncan Nicholson,

regional head of funding for the North East and Cumbria at the National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We are delighted that, thanks to the generosity of players of the National Lottery, we

are able to support this very important piece of work in Middlesborough. “By funding these partnerships we will be helping to tackle some of the most challenging issues the community faces

in an area that has been significantly impacted by cost of living increases and that features highly in government indexes of child poverty and deprivation.” GO HERE FOR MORE MIDDLESBROUGH

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