BBC Children in Need has announced that it has awarded funding totalling £23,923 to a project

working with

disadvantaged children and young people in Worcestershire.

The grant has been allocated through the charity’s Small Grants Programme.

The new funding will enable Open Trail to provide services to young people in the area and means that the charity now has more than

£1.1 million invested locally.

This is the second funding allocation of the year, with additional funding to be allocated to projects across the UK throughout 2019.

Open Trail, based in Kidderminster will use the three-year grant of £23,923 to provide forest school activities and learning to cycle sessions for disadvantaged children living in areas of deprivation.

“The project aims to teach the children new skills and encourage strong self-belief whilst supporting them to build friendships with peers.

Hannah Escott, managing director at Open Trail, said: “With this funding from BBC Children in Need we’ll be able to continue to make a difference to young people in our area that need our help most.

“We work with children and young people who are from deprived backgrounds; many experience neglect, live in foster care, have mental health problems, learning difficulties or struggle with a severe lack of confidence.

“In the past we have given children in poverty and in care the chance to play freely in a forest school, where they let go and play.

“We have also worked with young people with cerebral palsy, dyspraxia and autism and taught them to ride a bike independently, when their parents or carers thought that it would be impossible.

“We have had anxious children engage in group activities, lead the activities, or simply make friends for the first time.

“We are delighted that this funding will enable us to continue to make a difference, thank you BBC Children in Need.”

Melinda Connelly, BBC Children in Need regional head of the central region said: “This project is a fantastic example of our small grants programme in action, and really demonstrate how relatively small sums of money can have a huge impact on young lives.”