A North Yorkshire–based youth charity has upgraded its accommodation to provide young people with improved living spaces, thanks to support from Lloyds Bank.
North Yorkshire Youth is a charity that provides support to young people through youth clubs, bespoke programmes, volunteering, and experiencing the outdoors. It was founded in 1941 by Lady Crathorne – a prominent youth worker in the years leading up to World War II – and today is led by her son Lord Crathorne, President of the organisation.
To strengthen its offering and provide a better service for its users, the charity approached Lloyds Bank securing a £445,000 funding package to upgrade one of its three existing accommodation blocks.
Due to the age and condition of the block, the accommodation could only be used for six months of the year as it didn’t have adequate heating. With its condition worsening, the charity was at risk of losing up to a third of its business as it fell into disrepair.
Following the funding from Lloyds Bank, work on the new modular building, which can accommodate up to 24 people, has now been completed. The refurbishment will also provide a more sustainable approach, using repurposed steel frames and improved insulation to increase energy efficiency.
Having increased its residential provision, the charity has also decided to increase its services. It is now offering 18 different activities to primary school-aged children, as well as supporting young people on a one-to-one basis through its youth mentoring programme with bespoke support packages. It has also taken on two apprentices this year.
David Sharp, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Youth, said: “Our goal is to provide children with opportunities to discover their potential, and we’re delighted to be able to continue making a difference to over 5,000 children per year with the support of Lloyds Bank. Providing children with experiences outside of the classroom allows them to learn more about themselves, improve their self-esteem and self-confidence.
“We are very excited to have an extended range of activities for the children and to be able to offer our valuable youth mentoring experience as well.”
Paul Kelly, relationship manager of Lloyds Banking Group, said: “We are proud to be supporting a charity like North Yorkshire Youth that has a rich history of allowing children to expand their capabilities through a wide range of activities.
“Through our personal and responsive remote and flexible one-to-one service model for business customers, we were able to support them in their long-standing work with young people in a way that was suitable for them and their needs.
“We’ll continue to be by the side of North Yorkshire Youth and look forward to supporting them in their future growth.”
