Charity's 52km trek for town's young people

A charity is organising a 52km walking challenge to raise money for projects which support a town's 52,000 young people.

WAY, based in Swindon, helps youngsters with dedicated mentoring, music workshops and support with schooling.

The fundraising trek in April will start at Goring and Streatley railway station in Reading and take a route over the Ridgeway to the Base youth centre in Swindon.

WAY CEO, Sam Lloyd, said: "Swindon is often the butt of jokes. There's a feeling of 'looking down' on Swindon and not believing it can be better. But I've seen that couldn't be further from the truth."

He said about 30 runners and walkers are expected to take part in the challenge.

"What's really encouraged me is so many of them are simply Swindonians who believe in a better future for children and young people and want to back them," he said.

The charity says one in four children in Swindon lives in poverty and 18–24-year-olds are more likely to be unemployed. It supported 232 young people last year.

"We've worked with young people in hospitals for mental health crises, with young people at risk of crime and violence in the music studio, and we've done long-term mentoring for those at risk of exclusion," Mr Lloyd said.

"If we're able to journey alongside young people and believe in them - that's not only going to see lasting change in their lives, it will change the future of Swindon."

For every £500 raised a young person will be supported for six months with care and opportunities.

Mr Lloyd hopes the fundraiser can inspire more optimism in the town in the future.

"Swindon is vibrant, it has a great family feel, there's the town's art scene, a football club which will hopefully get promoted and children and young people who can make a real difference," he said.

"I think it could be a bit of a dark horse amongst other southern towns."

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