A REDDITCH youth organisation has scooped a staggering £189,898 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Your Ideas Youth and Community Project was one of eight West Midlands initiatives to secure money in the latest round of funding.

Based in Matchborough Centre, Your Ideas works with young people from a variety of backgrounds. Its purpose is to allow all members of the community to identify projects or initiatives that will improve the quality of life for the community as a whole.

The funding will enable the group to develop a project to provide a service for young people who are on the autistic spectrum and have been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

The funding, which be received over five years, will allow the group to provide much needed support to young people aged 15 and over who are on the spectrum.

Young people with Aspergers often have difficulty socialising with other young people, which can leave them feeling isolated. The project will provide a weekly friendship club in which they will be heavily involved in the planning and developing of the activities.

The group will be able to create a safe space in a supportive environment where they will be able to try a number of activities and also organise other projects and social events for themselves.

The project will also help young people through individually supporting them and helping them to access volunteering opportunities within the community.

There will be a weekly drop-in promoting healthy independent lifestyle activities.

The funding will allow the group to build upon and expand its work with young people with Aspergers who have often struggled with social and everyday situations.

Becoming a young adult is often a period of great change and uncertainty that can be very daunting for many young people on the spectrum.

This service will help those young people through that period of change by supporting them to develop their own projects, activities and networks.

A spokesman said: “We are delighted to receive this funding as it will help us to develop this much needed service.

“We have been working with young people with Aspergers Syndrome for the last two years and this funding is going to make such a difference to many young people on the spectrum and their families.

John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund head for the West Midlands, said: “Giving young people the best chances to succeed in life is critical for them, their families and the community.

“I strongly believe today’s projects working with young people are going to have a significant impact on young lives and will ultimately pave the way for them to build positive futures.

“All the projects are doing great work in improving life for people and communities in need."

For more details, see www.yourideas.org.uk or visit the group’s blog www.yourideasredditch.wordpress.com.