£50,000 is being donated to support youth work in Reading.

The John Sykes Foundation recently announced the launch of a dedicated £50,000 fund to provide critical support to organisations who focus on young people in Reading’s community.

The fund, entitled The Reading Youth Fund, is an initiative aimed at enriching the lives of young people aged 12-18 through supporting the current groups available that provide youth work.

Over the past 18 months, the Foundation has visited over 40 community groups that offer unwavering support to young people in Reading to review their needs.

The foundation noted a big gap when it comes to this demographic. Budgets have been cut, youth clubs have disappeared, and more and more young people have nowhere to go after school.

They also noted a lack of places to go for young people over the summer and during the weekends, like youth clubs or other young people’s societies.

This has resulted in some getting enticed into crime or at the least spending more time on social media.

The Reading Youth Fund seeks to assist organisations in Reading to help support opportunities for Young People to engage in sports, arts, music, drama, teamwork, and personal growth.

The Foundation recognises the vital role that these activities play in shaping well-rounded individuals and aims to make them accessible to all, regardless of financial limitations.

John Sykes commented, "We are disappointed this fund is necessary, but nevertheless excited to launch the Reading Youth Fund as a way to invest in the future of Reading.

“With the lack of activities for the youth and the constant flow of social media, our vision in supporting youth focused groups is to create an environment where every young individual spends less time on screens.

“They rather have the chance to explore their passions, develop skills, and build lasting friendships.

“By focusing for example on sports, art, music, or drama, we recognise that supporting youth development has a ripple effect on the community as a whole.

“Engaged and motivated youths contribute positively to their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and pride.”

Charities and community groups based within a five-mile radius of Reading Town Centre who support Young People are able to apply to the John Sykes Foundation.

The John Sykes Foundation is a registered charity transforming the lives and well-being of individuals and communities within the town of Reading where there is an element of disadvantage.