Narberth’s Yaki-Da Boi Project receives almost £20k from the National Lottery to support local youth initiatives.
The money funds education and challenges that will support and encourage the youth. The Yaki-Da Boi Project began in January 2024 and is now staffed by a Campaign Lead. They also want more volunteers.
Clare Sturman started the project after her son Sam died. He struggled with cocaine use, which hurt his mental health a lot. Sadly, he died by suicide on September 21, 2023.
The project has drop-in sessions every last Thursday monthly at the Queens Hall, from 5 to 8pm. They also did outdoor events recently. The funding expands drop-in sessions, and the project will go to new areas. They can give 24 school workshops that will occur in youth groups, plus rugby clubs.
They plan a mini-triathlon now, and sea dipping sessions will expand as well. “West Coast Chilly Peckers” aids this effort. They will host parent workshops too. These workshops cover talking to teens, specifically about drug and alcohol use risks.
Clare Sturman is very happy about the funding, as it means reaching many more young people. Recreational drug and social drinking impacts youth, and many do not know the risks involved. These risks impact mental well-being very heavily.
The National Lottery Community Fund has a strategy called “It starts with community”. They will give £4 billion by 2030 and have four missions to follow going forward. These points help the community greatly; to unite communities, support sustainability, help children succeed, enable healthier living.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million weekly. This money goes to good causes UK-wide.