3
March,
2022
Talbot Village Trust has donated £22,000 to local charity #Willdoes, to help purchase a youth outreach bus providing extensive support to young people in Dorset. The double decker bus will be a portable resource, travelling to areas where young people are facing difficulties with their mental health, offering the opportunity to confidentially speak to youth […]
Talbot Village Trust has donated £22,000 to local charity #Willdoes, to help purchase a youth outreach bus providing extensive support to young people in Dorset.
The double decker bus will be a portable resource, travelling to areas where young people are facing difficulties with their mental health, offering the opportunity to confidentially speak to youth workers, counsellors and medical professionals.
The bus is operated in partnership with Dorset Youth Association and is also currently being utilised to support the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations for young people.
Lesley Paddy, Founder of #Willdoes, said: “On behalf of our trustees and fundraising committee, we would like to thank Talbot Village Trust for such a generous donation which has helped us achieve one of our biggest goals so far.
“The lack of youth provision, funds and safe spaces in Dorset is at crisis point. This outreach bus is a safe haven, providing essential support for anxiety, depression and general wellbeing, and will improve the lives of many young people in the area.”
#Willdoes was founded in memory of Lesley Paddy’s son William, who passed away at 14 years old in May 2019. The charity’s mission is to raise awareness of the mental health crisis young people are facing locally and to give grants to projects that help improve mental and physical wellbeing.
The bus will be stationed in Swanage’s main beach car park but will also visit other areas across Dorset including Portland, Weymouth, Dorchester and other rural villages in need of its services. The outreach bus also hopes to serve neighbouring counties in future.
#Willdoes has experienced exceptional support from high-profile ambassadors since its conception, including Olympians Victoria Pendleton, William Fox-Pitt and Jamie Nicholls. Sandra Redknapp and Carl Jason Fox are also passionate supporters of the charity.
Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, Chair of Talbot Village Trust, said: “No parent should ever have to face the loss of a child. There is an ongoing mental health crisis that has only been escalated by the pandemic and #Willdoes is doing incredible work to mitigate this. The outreach bus will improve and save the lives of many, so supporting this project was absolutely the right thing to do.”
To find out more about #Willdoes, please visit www.willdoes.co.uk .
To apply for funding from the Talbot Village trust, visit www.talbotvillagetrust.org to submit an online application.
The Trust meets biannually and is accepting applications for funding from both previous and new applicants in the area before the Trustees meet in Autumn 2022.
