Duke of Cornwall gives £70k to YMCA Cornwall

The Duke of Cornwall has kickstarted a campaign to help a YMCA centre in Cornwall offer more accommodation to young people in difficult circumstances.

YMCA Cornwall needs £250,000 to build three more flats in an underused dance studio at its site in Penzance, and Prince William's charitable foundation had given the project £70,000, bosses said.

The site currently provides housing for 46 young people aged between 16 and 25 who have nowhere else to go, and gives them a chance to live independently.

Staff said they were also looking for help from local tradespeople and suppliers in their plans to refurbish the premises.

Helen Wilson-Prowse is the operations manager at the Penzance-based charity that has a café, youth facilities and the flats.

She said: "We provide supported accommodation for vulnerable young people, they are here because they might otherwise be homeless.

"It could be family breakdown, mental health or various addiction issues, so our team try to give wrap-around support and give them the skills to live independently."

The YMCA is raising the £250,000 through its campaign Your Help, Their Future.

Charlie had a family breakdown and was unable to stay at home. He ended up living in a hotel paid for by Cornwall Council before coming to the YMCA.

His flat is simple and clean, with a living room, kitchen and bathroom; and he studies media at a nearby Truro and Penwith College.

He said: "Before I got here I was in a council hotel. I was all on my own but there's other people who aren't as lucky as me, which is really bad."

"I thought I would never ever be here. I may be here on my own in the flat sometimes but, in reality, I'm not - I've got people all around me."

Ms Wilson-Prowse said that, as well as the fundraising, the organisation was also looking for help from local tradespeople and suppliers, plus people who could "spare their time in a bit of a DIY SOS-type activity", in reference to the BBC television show.

She said: "We'd like to partner with organisations that might supply building materials for the project, or perhaps volunteers that can come and paint when it comes to that stage."

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