Aston Villa Foundation Receives COVID-19 Funding

Aston Villa Foundation Receives COVID-19 Funding

The Aston Villa Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Youth Endowment Fund to support young people at risk of being drawn into violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the funding, the foundation will work with four local schools and their young people who have been disengaged from education during lockdown and are likely to continue in this manner in September. They will be mentored and provided with non-traditional curriculum and extra-curricular activities as a means of providing positive engagement and positive relationships.

The Youth Endowment Fund is an independent charitable trust set up by the United Kingdom’s Home Office. It funds, supports and evaluates projects in England and Wales which work to prevent children and young people from being drawn into violent crime. Aston Villa foundation is one of 130 organisations to share part of a £6.5m (7.2m Euros) grant pot from the Youth Endowment Fund to help at-risk young people impacted by COVID-19.

Ross Alexander, Foundation Manager, says: “We are delighted to receive the grant from the Youth Endowment Fund. The money will be put towards supporting young people in the local community who are going through some very challenging times, that without this support could have long term detrimental effects on their lives. We are grateful that we are able to fund such a vital cause.”

Jon Yates, Executive Director at Youth Endowment Fund, states: “It has been too easy to forget vulnerable young people during this crisis. The pandemic has removed much of the critical support that many of them rely upon – from teachers to youth workers. This funding will help us find the best way to reach and support these young people when they most need it.”