Project helps give young people confidence boost

Organisers said young people aged nine to 18 were part of the project

Young people have said a Children in Need-backed project has helped them to build their confidence and meet like-minded people after they moved to the UK.

Mary, 14, who moved to England from Nigeria in 2023, said she joined the Young Voices Inspire group in Plymouth after she found the move "quite hard" due to her shy personality.

Plymouth Jollof Kitchen Community Interest Company (CIC) which runs the group - a project which provides support and activities for young people - has received £45,000 from Children In Need.

Mary described the group as "quite an opportunity" and "this group has helped me so much to build my confidence and talk to people more".

Mohammed Chaanda, from Plymouth Jollof Kitchen CIC and co-ordinator of Young Voices Inspire said he founded the group because "Plymouth is not very diverse, minorities are very few," and he felt people faced challenges.

Josh, 12, who is also a member of Young Voices Inspire, said: "It was really hard for me to leave India because I had loads of friends there.

"This group helped me, it's just fun being with people who have been through the same thing I have been through."

Fatima, 17, who moved to England from Nigeria in 2012, said: "I'd like to say thank you to the people that have donated to Children in Need because I was pretty much isolated from everyone else, but with this group it gave me a chance to meet new people, and have fun at the same time."

All the young people who are part of the group moved to the UK with their parents for a variety of reasons.

'Intergrating these students'

The group aims to give young people hope for the future, improve social skills and confidence, and reduce feelings of isolation.

Their grant runs until May 2028 and contributes to staff, volunteers, activities, equipment and support costs.

Most of the young people - aged between nine and 18 - were in education.

Mr Chaanda said: "This funding has made it possible for us to facilitate integrating these students who have recently come to Plymouth."

He added: "Without the support, connecting to these people, transporting the students and sponsoring their lunches wouldn't have been possible."