A Ceredigion community group is celebrating a near half-million-pound windfall from National Lottery funding.
Stage Goat, in partnership with Area 43, will use the funds for activities that support young people, with plans to open a new youth café in Lampeter.
Based in Lampeter, this collaboration aims to establish a Youth Café Safe Space supported by the new funding, replicating the accomplishments of Area 43's Depot in Cardigan, a hub that has seen a thousand youngsters per month since its opening in 2021.
As the former premises in Victoria Hall can no longer accommodate the growing demand, this funding opens doors to a dedicated building in the town.
Working with young lobbyists, S3 (Safe Space to Speak / Safle Saff i Siarad), both groups aim to widen this safety net across Ceredigion with the creation of numerous safe spaces for young people.
In what can be regarded as a youth-led initiative, Lampeter will soon have its own dedicated safe space providing numerous services like drop-in support, activities, and referrals for its young inhabitants.
The National Lottery community fund, the leading community funder in the UK, awards the money raised by National Lottery players to worthy projects.
The funding has made possible a staggering weekly £30 million injection into UK-wide good causes.
Tracey O’Grady, Stage Goat’s founder said: "We’re thrilled that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.
"Now, thanks to National Lottery players we can broaden the range of support and opportunities available to local young people. Working in Partnership with Area 43 will mean we will be able to share learning and resources to ensure the highest standards of support for young people in Lampeter."
Rachael Eagles, CEO of Area 43 said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stage Goat as a local provider of youth support services, they are best placed to meet the need in Lampeter, and we at Area 43 are committed to partnerships with organisations that fit with our youth-led ethos to deliver quality, young people led services to young people regardless of their location."
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