LOTTERY GRANT MEANS LONGER OPENING HOURS FOR ROCHFORD HOUSE

Rochford House, the Woodbridge young people’s drop-in centre, will be able to extend its opening hours thanks to a £58,813 from the Big Lottery Young People’s Fund. The money will enable Rochford House to run more after school sessions for young people, providing them with support and learning in a range of key areas.

The three year project will involve programmes to assist young people in:

• Being healthy through improved diet, reduced obesity, healthy eating, increased exercise, healthy cooking and reduction in smoking
• taying safe, through information on safe sex, safer drinking, reduced risk taking and staying clear of drugs in the community
• Achieving economic well being and improving future employment prospects
• Making a positive contribution through acting more responsibly and contributing to life at home, school, the project and the wider community
• Enjoying and achieving through the learning experience being valued as well as achieving through knowledge and accreditation

Rochford House was opened in September 1997 and aims to provide a safe, supportive environment to raise the confidence, self-esteem and social skills of young people to enable them to fulfil their potential.

“ We are thrilled that the Big Lottery are supporting the valuable work carried out at Rochford House,” commented Chair of Trustees, Christine Laverock.

“We asked the young people what they wanted in addition to evening drop-in sessions and extending opening times to the day were high on their list of priorities . This grant will allow us to provide this facility on four days a week”