Investment management firm Rathbones’ Bristol office has donated £8,000 to Bath-based charity Developing Health & Independence (DHI) to support its work with young people.
DHI supports people who are socially excluded for reasons such as homelessness, alcohol or drug problems.
Alongside other donations, employees at Rathbone Investment Management and Rathbone Greenbank Investments have worked with the Trustees of the Rathbone Brothers Foundation to donate the funds.
Nicola Day, Deputy Head of Rathbone Greenbank, said: “We are delighted that over the last five years we have been able to support a number of local charities who carry out great work within the local area.
“We have primarily chosen charities which focus on young people, specifically supporting youngsters in deprived areas.”
DHI was one of Rathbones’ selected charities during 2019 with the funding focused on DHI’s young people’s drug and alcohol service in Bath & North East Somerset, called Project 28.
The service is free and confidential, providing a flexible and non-judgemental space for young people to be open about the problems they are facing.
The project provides a range of support activities such as counselling, diversionary/residential activities, drop-in sessions and outreach work to help young people change their behaviours, improve their health, increase their confidence and self-esteem and turn their lives around.
The £8000 of funding will enable Project 28 to offer opportunities such as residential activity holidays, taking young people to an activity centre in the heart of Devon.
DHI’s Chief Executive, Rosie Phillips, said: “We recognise the positive impact these activities have on the young people.
“Many of the children have never been on a trip away and this will give them precious time to step away from their daily lives and its struggles and receive valuable support to help them re-focus, gain confidence and start to want to change direction”.
