Kickstart is building for the future (01/09/2006)

01.09.2006

Greater Manchester charity Kickstart is today celebrating a £433,568 investment from Futurebuilders England, the government backed investment fund for the voluntary sector. The investment will be used to expand Kickstart’s services for young people across Greater Manchester and the North West of England.

Commenting on the charity’s success Rob Jackson, Kickstart’s Chief Executive, said: “This is fantastic news for Kickstart. Over the past few years, we have been building up our many programmes that reach out to young people. This new investment will provide a solid foundation for our ongoing expansion programme.”

Kickstart uses a young person’s involvement with motor vehicles and related vocational skills as a catalyst for real change and personal development, a positive mix which gives young people the opportunity to become involved in something they enjoy. Rob added: “This successful application is a reflection of the team’s consistent hard work, together with the achievement of the young people who have benefited from our programmes.”

The Futurebuilders investment will enhance facilities for the existing Oldham and Tameside projects. The funding will also provide capital investment for Kickstart’s forthcoming Manchester project, due to commence in January 2007, and a further project proposed for the North West within the next two years.

Richard Gutch, Chief Executive of Futurebuilders England said: “We are delighted to be helping Kickstart expand their educational work with young people in Greater Manchester and the North West. These projects will help many more young people who would otherwise miss out on traditional opportunities to develop their skills.”

Ends

For further information please contact Jenni Anderson at Futurebuilders on 020 7927 6356.

Notes to Editors

• Kickstart is a Registered Charity. Kickstart reaches out to groups of hard-to-reach and vulnerable young people, aged 14-19, offering vocational training, social inclusion and personal development opportunities. In 2005/06 we offered real opportunities to over 500 young people.
• Futurebuilders England is the £125 million government backed investment fund for the third sector. It offers a mixture of loans, grants and capacity building support to voluntary and community organisations that want to deliver better public services. Since 2004, Futurebuilders has offered over £60 million in investment packages to over 150 organisations. Applications are welcome from organisations working in health and social care, education and learning, children and young people, crime prevention and community cohesion.  For further information or to apply visit www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk