A Reading-based charity has been awarded £30,000 to help its work, thanks to a housebuilder.
The resilience grant has been given by the Berkeley Foundation to Berkshire Youth, with the aim of helping to future-proof itself.
The charity supports young people across the royal county, with youth clubs offering a safe space for young people so they can make friends and learn new skills.
The funding from the Berkeley Foundation will be used to allow Berkshire Youth to overhaul its governance and leadership structure, and employ a new director of youth work.
Sarah Emery, CEO at Berkshire Youth, said: “The funding from Berkeley Foundation was revolutionary for Berkshire Youth in addressing our organisation’s resilience.
“The funding created the capacity and the focus to make Berkshire Youth futureproof. With new trustees, a re-ignited passion and commitment from existing trustees we really have had the opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change.”
The Berkeley Foundation’s Resilience Fund launched three years ago to help small youth charities build their organisational resilience.
Berkshire Youth is one of 20 charities and CICs supported through the Fund to date.
Sally Dickinson, head of the Berkeley Foundation, said: “Our Resilience Fund aims to help small-to-medium-sized charities build resilience for the future – to make sure they will be around to support generations of young people to come.
“Small charities are often working under intense pressure, in a really difficult operating environment.
“It has been a joy to partner with Berkshire Youth over the last two years, and see the organisation develop and thrive.”
For more information on the Berkeley Foundation, log on to: www.berkeleyfoundation.org.uk
