A YOUTH group which helps teenagers in areas plagued by gang violence has been awarded a grant of £100,000 from BBC Children in Need.

Stow Youth in Action, which works with young people in Walthamstow Village and Priory Court in Higham Hill, was set up 11 years ago.

The group which operates out of the Waltham Forest Community Hub in Orford Road caters for 11 to 19-year-olds.

Manager Monwara Ali said the cash will enable the team to step up their services in areas that need it most.

She said: “Our aim is to empower young people and to engage them in sports, art and charity work.

“The grant will enable us to increase our services in Priory Court. It is a deprived area and it has a history with gang activity.

“There is huge disparity between the older generation and the younger generation in Priory Court and we want to help people overcome that.

“There’s a genuine feeling of disengagement among young people because they feel they are not being listened to.

“Our staff are all very pleased about the grant and I cannot believe it.”

The programmes will operate three days a week and will include one-to-one mentoring with trained youth workers.

In an effort to improve intergenerational relations, the teenagers will serve pensioners at the annual Christmas Lunch on Thursday December 22.

Entertainment and a raffle will be provided at the event at Waltham Forest Community Hub from 12pm to 4pm.

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