A youth project in Newcastle that helps young people make the most of their talents and opportunities has received almost £8,000 from the Harrison Foundation and True Potential.
D2 Youth Zone, based in Newbiggin Hall, is a youth work project committed to creating opportunities to empower young people. Its focus is on providing quality youth work with a special emphasis on working with the most vulnerable people in the community. True Potential held fundraising events, including an online Comedy Night, throughout January to help support the charity. Fundraising donations from staff have been doubled by True Potential’s Senior Partners, who remain committed to doing more for the local community.
Since 2007 the Harrison Foundation has sought to work with charities such as D2 Youth Zone, which specialise in enabling vulnerable and disengaged young people to make the most of their lives.
Harrison Foundation trustee and True Potential chief executive, Daniel Harrison, joined a video conference with D2 Youth Zone project manager, Angela Smith, to hear more about their work.
Also attending the virtual meeting were local MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell and founder of the Harrison Foundation, David Harrison.
In total, almost £8,000 was donated to D2 Youth Zone in January from True Potential and the Harrison Foundation.
Daniel Harrison said:
“The work that Angela and her team at D2 Youth Zone are doing is absolutely fantastic and is a crucial intervention in the development years of these young people.
“I remember from my own teenage years that it was sometimes difficult to know exactly what I should be doing but sometimes a helping hand and a good piece of advice is all that’s needed to set people off on the right track.
“The passion that I can tell Angela has to support these young people is exactly what’s needed and I’m delighted that the Harrison Foundation can support the vital work that she and her team are doing.
“I’m also proud of the team at True Potential for selecting D2 Youth Zone for their monthly staff fundraising, with the business matching the amount they raise for this excellent project.”
D2 Youth Zone was brought to the attention of the Harrison Foundation by Catherine McKinnell MP.
Ms McKinnell added: “D2 Youth Project is a brilliant community asset that does amazing work in Newbiggin Hall. I am delighted to have been able to link the project up with True Potential.
“I would like to thank David, Daniel and the team at the Harrison Foundation for their generous support, which I know will enable Angela and the team at D2 to build on their fantastic work supporting the local community.”
D2 Youth Zone project manager Angela Smith, added:
“It has been difficult for us to watch the impact COVID-19 has had on young people and their families. The additional pressure of concerns about funding to ensure we remain a lifeline to young people never goes away.
“We are delighted with the financial support we have received from the Harrison Foundation and True Potential. We are extremely grateful that, as a result, young people will continue to have access to the opportunities that otherwise would have been missed.”
Already in 2021, the Harrison Foundation has donated £10,000 to youth charities. The Foundation and True Potential, have also donated dozens of laptop computers to schools to tackle the digital divide and support online learning during lockdown.
The latest donation comes on the back of over £350,000, which the Harrison Foundation and True Potential donated in 2020 to support hospices, schools, youth charities, homelessness organisations and social mobility causes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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