Youth project in Dorset to close due to lack of funding

The Face Forward youth project, which focuses on helping unemployed young people, will close after funding ran out.

The funding, provided by the National Lottery and the European Social Fund, lasts until the end of March – following which the project will close.

Face Forward is run by Ansbury Guidance, whose main office is based in Poole.

Most beneficiaries come from the care system or suffer from mental health issues. The project aims to give them tools to proceed in further education or employment.

Between forty and fifty new young people show interest in taking part in the project each month. However, due to the eventual closure, Face Forward can no longer accept new participants.

They’re now focused on helping the 201 clients find positive outcomes before the project ends, as well as support their 20 members of staff.

Nicola Newman, Chief Executive of the organisation, said:” It is very sad having to reject so many young people who want to be part of the project.”

She added: “To end now is to waste all the investment in the project infrastructure that cannot be got back once gone – on top of the obvious lack of support for the hundreds of young people who need it most.”