FOUR south Essex organisations have been handed a share of more than £75,000 to help young people who are at risk of being exposed to crime. 

The money, from the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, will go towards creating a new youth centre in Southend High Street as well as supporting specialist counselling for young people living in the city who have been victims of sexual abuse. 

In Basildon, grants will be used to support a charity promoting young people to get into sport as well as a radio station scheme to help young people earn radio qualifications. 

Christian church organisation Southend Vineyard received £25,000 to run a youth cafe and outreach scheme.

Echo: Outreach - the organisation plans to open a new youth centre next month.Outreach - the organisation plans to open a new youth centre next month. (Image: Southend Vineyard)

It is hoped the Bridge Youth and Community Hub in Southend High Street will help reduce anti-social behaviour and the fear of gangs, knife crime drugs and violence, when it opens next month.

Charity organiser Steve Currell said: “We are thrilled to be able to fund our new ground-breaking project to engage young people in a positive way.”

Meanwhile, Southend-on-Sea (SOS) Rape Crisis received £24,172 to extend specialist counselling for young people aged between 11 and 19 who have been the victims of sexual violence.

Chief executive officer Cathryn Cardoza said: “Through these early interventions, we aim to equip children to make informed choices about their future, fostering resilience and preventing potential long-term impacts of their trauma.”

Echo: Healthy - Achieve Thrive Flourish will offer sports sessions for young people.Healthy - Achieve Thrive Flourish will offer sports sessions for young people. (Image: Achieve Thrive Flourish)

In Basildon, sports outreach charity Achieve Thrive Flourish received £17,200 to help deliver weekly sessions. It will fund full-time staff to attend three sessions a week to support young people.

Stuart Martin, the charity’s communities manager, said: “The funding is paramount to strengthening communities. If the young people we support can be involved in good work as an alternative to anti-social behaviour, then their lives are all the more positive because of it.”

Echo: Passion - Gateway Community Media wants to nurture young people's love for radio.Passion - Gateway Community Media wants to nurture young people's love for radio. (Image: Gateway Community Media)

Meanwhile, Gateway Community Media received £12,000 to fund a youth worker to help young people earn radio qualifications. The organisation aims to help young people to engage in radio and has seen many go on to work for BBC and commercial radio.

Executive director Danny Lawrence said: “We love inspiring young people to develop a love for radio. The grant allows us to continue to support young people who love media and help them build skills.”