Youth charity welcomes fundraising support

Enthusiasm Trust, which supports young people from disadvantaged and deprived homes across the city, has been given a boost after being named as the chosen charity by several high-profile projects.

The charity, which is based in Cotton Lane, runs programmes for the hardest to reach young people in Derby who are at very high risk of criminal or anti-social behaviour.

It provides youth clubs, workshops, school holiday activities, homework support and one-to-one mentoring programmes with a view to showing young people that there is a different path.

The organisation was recently chosen by 69-year-old Vic Handley who later this year will row across the Atlantic Ocean – making him the second-oldest person to make the crossing.

This December, Vic will take part in the annual World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic Challenge and plans to raise £200,000 for four charities, including Enthusiasm Trust.

And towards the end of last year, Derby and District Law Society named Enthusiasm Trust as its chosen charity for the year.

Oliver Maxwell, from Nelsons Solicitors, was appointed as president of the society in May and chose the charity after attending a Marketing Derby Bondholder event at Enthusiasm’s headquarters.

According to the charity’s chief executive April Allman, Enthusiasm needs to raise £300,000 to keep delivering its services.

She said: “In the last 18 months we have supported more than 1,000 young people in the city, aged between 11 and 18 years old, who have been referred to us by schools, police and other agencies.

“But without the help of local organisations we couldn’t continue to support these children.

“Many have not had the best starts in life and everything we do is designed to build self-esteem and confidence and raise aspirations individually and in the community.

“Of course, not everyone has to go to the lengths that Vic is – his challenge is an enormous undertaking, and all our young people will be watching his progress with bated breath.

“I think they are quite amazed that someone they don’t know wants to do something so brave in their honour.”