Over £82,000 awarded to expand youth activities
Children across Wantage, Grove and nearby neighbourhoods will soon have more exciting youth activities on offer, thanks to a funding boost for Sweatbox Community Youth Services.
Sweatbox is set to receive £82,166 from Vale of White Horse District Council to expand their weekly youth activities, which include sports, arts and more.
Specifically, the funds will support two years of a proposed six-year project to provide new weekly youth activities and expand Sweatbox’s Friday night Youth Services.
The funding comes from developer contributions, also known as Section 106 funding, from the local Kingsgrove development to go towards local youth facilities.
Councillor Andy Crawford, Cabinet member for finance and property and ward councillor for Wantage at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Youth programs play an important part in getting young people active, developing their social skills, and connecting local children from different backgrounds to develop their sense of community.
“Sweatbox provides a vital service to our local community, being the only youth club or facility in the Wantage and Grove area, and I’m pleased we can support them to benefit more local residents.”
Councillor Patrick O’Leary, ward councillor for Wantage at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This funding for Sweatbox Community Youth Services will go a long way in helping more local children of all ages access fun and exciting activities. Sweatbox already deliver fantastic events for local kids and I look forward to seeing their program expanded.”
Michelle Rozier, Manager at Sweatbox Community Youth Services, said: “We’re so excited to receive this funding and can’t wait to roll out our expanded program. With the local population growing, we can’t wait to welcome more young people, supporting them to make new friends, enjoy a wide range of activities and, most importantly, have fun!”
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Notes to the editor
Sweatbox Community Youth Services is an open access youth centre, welcoming young people mostly from Wantage, Grove and the surrounding villages but also from across Oxfordshire and a variety of schools, academies and colleges. Find out more on the Sweatbox Wantage website.
