A PROJECT which brings together young people with additional needs from across Monmouthshire, is searching for a new source of money with its current funding set to finish in December.

The Building Bridges Project was set up in November 2013 to run for four years with a grant from the Big Lottery, its aim was to get young people with additional needs involved in the community.

So far the project has been a resounding success, but if it is to continue it will need help.

Project manager Beccy Williams is currently trying to secure more lottery funding, but that won’t sustain the project in its current form.

She said: “We are in the process of submitting a slightly smaller bid for the lottery, it would be for a slightly different project, which might make it smaller. So we are looking to sustain it in other ways.

“Obviously if there was a really rich person there up for giving us some dosh that would be perfect, but we will look at fundraising as well!”

In just four years the project has been able to make a big difference for young people with additional needs in the area.

Mrs Williams said: “The focus of the project is to engage young people between 14 and 25, people in transition, with additional needs.

“There are no senior additional needs schools in Monmouthshire, so when these young people make friends in other schools, when they come home they don’t have anyone.

“We help people engage in the community and make friendships, reduce social isolation, build up social skills, confidence and build skills they rely on in the future.

“The project has been able to provide support for these people and help them make the most out of their lives.

“We have done canoeing, camping, drama and more, we give people a taste of things they haven’t done before.

“They have not only formed friendships but relationships, people have learnt to drive, done their bronze Duke of Edinburgh and are volunteering in community.

“Once people have become more confident, the way we need to support them and their families has changed. We have had young people who didn’t want to do further education going onto college, and we now have people living independently who feel confident with that because they know we are there to call.”

Without the Building Bridges Project a lot of these opportunities will be lost and it is not just the young people who are involved in the project who will suffer, but everyone connected.

“It wouldn’t just been a loss to those young people but their families, who have said how much it has changed their lives at home. added Mrs Williams.

“Those people coming up, the 13-14 year olds and the people of the future will miss out.”

Any help offered would be would be appreciated. To get in contact, visit the group’s website www.buildingbridgesproject.org.uk or call 01600 710895.

On June 28th at 2pm the Building Bridges Project is holding an evaluation day at the Bridges Centre Monmouth, which will show off the work the project has done young people exhibiting some of their work including dancing, poetry and drama.