Youth Charity Praises "Lifeline Cheque" To See It Through Next Three Years

A Bolton charity has praised a “lifeline cheque” that is set to see it through the next three years.

The funding was welcome news to volunteers that rely on the service at Xplode Magazine, which will celebrate six years next month supporting and training young people across the region.

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which is backing the charity, pledged £60,000 to improve support for “disadvantaged” children and young people across the region.

Xplode launched ambitious plans last year to expand across Greater Manchester as it set out to train 10,000 young Greater Mancunian’s.

Saeed Atcha, CEO and Founder of Xplode, praised the cheque as a symbol of “faith" in young people. He said: “At a time of strained resources across the sector, the funding from Esmée Fairbairn is lifeline cheque for us. It really demonstrates the faith in our mission and us, as young people, trying to make a difference.

Mr Atcha added: “We are on track with our plans to roll out our employability training across Greater Manchester, as the only youth-led organisation here, and we are excited to build on the opportunities young people in Bolton and across the region are craving."

Xplode Magazine was crowned a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016 for the difference they’re making to young people in the borough. The charity runs training sessions to help young people aged 16 to 25 years old with employability skills and it publishes a quarterly magazine showcasing articles created and edited by volunteers.

Catherine Hills, Grant Manager at the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said: "As a funder we are keen to improve support for disadvantaged children and young people. We back exceptional people with inspiring, practical ideas and organisations that have developed new approaches.

She added: "We are proud to support Xplode, a truly youth-led organisation whose unique model uses peer training to tackle the issue of persistent unemployment in Bolton and Greater Manchester."