Support for young people in rural areas

THE Ely Project is a young people's information and counselling service run by Centre 33 and based in Cambridge.

It works in partnership with The Bridge, an agency which supports people with drug problems.

Centre 33 CEO Melanie Monaghan welcomed the funding to support the new counsellor post at Ely Library.

She said: "We will now be able to develop and expand the services on offer in East Cambridgeshire to ensure we meet the needs of young people within their own rural communities."

Centre 33 is committed to finding the resources needed to reach young people in rural areas. Many of the homeless young people in Cambridge city centre are not from Cambridge, but from the outlying rural areas.

"One of our aims is to provide advocacy and support to young people in their local communities to try to prevent them from becoming homeless or, if there is no other option, to make that transition into independent living easier for them and the communities in which they live. Having a paid worker in East Cambridgeshire will help us identify the needs, resources and premises for our services."

Cathy Howlett, project development manager for Healthy Living - East Cambridgeshire, added: "We are delighted to be able to offer funding to such an excellent cause.

"The Ely Project provides vital and much-needed services and, while we have been able to offer these services through volunteers for a while now, this is the first time a paid-for post has been provided, which in time will mean better resources for the young people of East Cambridgeshire."

The services offered by The Ely Project are available to anyone aged 13-25. While it is possible to get a referral to the service from a health professional, school or college, young people can also refer themselves.

Contact Centre 33, at Clarendon Street, Cambridge on 01233 316488 or email help@centre33.org.uk