£30k boost secures future for innovative youth club

The Afasic Youth Club run a weekly get together for young people aged 11-18 years with speech and language barriers, where they can meet and socialise with others with similar needs.

The aim is for them to have fun, make friends and gain 
in confidence and independence. Arianna Patterson, Executive Director at Afasic, said of the funding: “It’s fantastic. to receive this grant.

“It means we can build on the success of our youth club over the next three years.

“Very often, young people with lifelong speech and language impairments simply have no chance to socialise with peers at all, due to 
their inability to communicate and the barriers they experience.

“The youth club has become a lifeline for many, offering a little bit of independence and helping increase their confidence and resilience.

“The improved life chances of those we support through what might be viewed as a simple youth club, are immeasurable.”

Mary Duffy, National Head of BBC Children in Need in Scotland said: “We are delighted to be awarding funding to projects like Afasic which will go on to make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the area.