Youth charity benefits from CLA Charitable Trust grant

A Gloucestershire-based charity that works with disadvantaged young people will now be able to extend its nature-led mental health support thanks to a grant from the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT).

The trust is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from members of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA). It provides grants to charities and community organisations who share its vision to help connect young people who are disabled or disadvantaged with the countryside and nature.

Young Gloucestershire was among the groups to successfully apply for funding, receiving £3,000. The charity supports young people between the ages of 11 and 25 across the county, providing them with the skills, confidence and motivation to improve their lives.

The funding received from the CLACT will be used to help employ an Outdoor / Environmental Youth Worker to support the organisation’s mental health programme by connecting young people with the outdoors and nature.

Young Gloucestershire’s Fundraising Manager Karl Gwillam commented: “It’s fantastic to receive the CLACT’s very generous funding. Mental health issues amongst young people have increased, and creating opportunities to address this are more important than ever. We serve some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country, and whilst our location does provide some significant challenges for young people, Gloucestershire’s rural nature also provides a solution. Time in green spaces can significantly benefit mental health and improve psychological wellbeing, yet many of the young people we work with spend much time indoors.

“It’s vital that we work with young people to get them outdoors and help them connect with nature to improve their mental health. The CLACT’s support will make a real difference in the work we do, improving the wellbeing of the young people we work with and empowering them to undertake environmental youth-led community projects.”

Bridget Biddell, Chair of CLACT, said: “Nature and being outdoors is providing the environment for the amazing work this charity does in helping support young people with mental health problems. The CLA Charitable Trust are grateful that we can assist in this critical work through helping with costs of a youth worker.”

Since its foundation in 1980, the trust has given £2m in grants to a wide variety of organisations and projects. If you would like to know more about applying for funding, or to donate, visit the Trust's webpage.