YOUTH charity Recharge has been awarded £97,716 in new funding from BBC Children in Need to provide a range of support sessions and activities for young people.

Over the next three years the award will help to fund staff to ensure a variety of services aimed at improving the confidence, wellbeing and positive community engagement of young people are accessible.

Recharge gives youths aged between 11 and 18 the chance to benefit from one-to-one support to help them target individual concerns, drop-in nights where they can meet with peers, a mentoring scheme to introduce them to positive role models and health-based workshops to improve life skills.

Alan Bell, from Recharge, said: “It is fantastic news for Recharge as it will provide stability over the next three years, which is a vital time for the organisation as we will also be involved in the redevelopment of the Recharge building.

“We also feel very fortunate that BBC Children in Need will have supported us with the manager’s position for 12 years, which has allowed us to continue and develop the support to young people in the Fa’side area.

“Thanks to this grant we can provide a flexible and reactive support service for young people in the local community which tackles a number of issues and improves their outlook for the future.”

Recharge, a registered charity, is based on Church Street in the former Tranent day centre building.

As well as drop-in nights which provide a safe place for young people to go and a positive alternative to hanging around the streets, the charity also organises trips, and goes out into the community.

Its team of dedicated workers provide support to young people across the Fa’side area and offer one to one support for anyone struggling with issues.

It also has a youth participation programme which gives those helped by the organisation the chance to get involved in decision-making and oversee a Youth Bank which awards financial assistance.

Speaking of the new grants, Paul Liddell, national head of Scotland for BBC Children in Need, said: “We are delighted to award Recharge for their work with children and young people in the local area.

“Thanks to our supporters, funding is already making a difference locally by supporting opportunities that help children and young people overcome a number of challenges to their happiness, safety and security.

“We look forward to seeing this latest grant in action over the coming weeks and are grateful to everyone who makes these grants possible.”