Community Impact
May 3, 2024
We donated £1,500 to Blackburn-based charity, The Rainbow Youth Centre, from the North West Community Fund scheme.
The Rainbow Youth Centre (RYC) specialises in supporting young people aged 18 and under who identify as LGBTQI+, and those who live with neurodivergent issues such as anxiety, depression and self-harm.
Our support helped the charity’s dedicated and experienced youth workers to continue to provide stimulating and exciting learning opportunities for young people to make new friends and live as they wish to without fear of prejudice.
The contribution was dedicated to the expansion of the services offered at the RYC including a support group dedicated to the health and wellbeing of those under 18 who identify as LGBTQI+.
Martin Needham, CEO and Founder of The Rainbow Youth Centre said: “The work we do is very important. As the only organisation of its kind in the UK, we receive referrals from councils, the NHS, schools and more with young people coming from across the North West to attend the sessions we offer.
“Without the sessions at the RYC, these young people would not be able to access the necessary facilities to ensure they are taking positive steps towards their health and wellbeing.
“Last year, we reached 90 young people with an average of 20 per week. With families included, this gives us an effective reach of around 400 lives across the Lancashire and the North West.”
Having opened its doors in 2020, the RYC has continued to engage with young people through the consistent improvement and development of its services to best suit the needs of the young people that walk through the door.
Gavin Powell, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes North West, said: “We are committed to creating a positive impact and, as the UK’s largest developer, it’s really important that we support local organisations in the areas in which we build new homes.
“We wish The Rainbow Youth Centre all the best in its health and wellbeing support groups and hope it continues to enrich the lives of the children it provides an amazing opportunity for.”
For more information about the charity, visit the website at The Rainbow Youth Centre.
