Grant for Carlisle teens to help Roma children

You said…   We need funds for a trip to Romania to help disadvantaged Roma children.

We did…   Helped the Salvation Army pitch to residents for a Neighbourhood Forum grant, funded by the county council, for £2,000 to buy flights to Romania.

Twelve young people from across Carlisle have flown to Romania to help Roma children, with help from a county council Neighbourhood Forum Grant.

The two week trip was organised by the Salvation Army in Carlisle, who bid for the £2,000 funding from the three Neighbourhood Forums in the Carlisle District, matching it with £2,000 from their own funds and a further £2,000 raised by the young people.

The group travelled to Iasi in North East Romania. There they organised fun games sessions like football, provided food, renovated a laundry area and decorated some of the communal areas.

Major Mel Robinson from Carlisle Salvation Army says: “We advertised the visit to Romania to young people across Carlisle, particularly through our youth clubs.  

“The members of the group we took were not well off by UK standards but they found that the conditions the Roma children lived in made them feel very lucky indeed.  

“The trip was a big success, and the team felt they were really able to help brighten the children’s lives. It’s had a long term impact on the group too – when they returned to the UK many of their parents said the young people had grown up a lot, improved their social skills and learned about different cultures.”

Neighbourhood Forum Grants are available to community groups who are working to improve the local community.   The decision on who should receive a grant, and for how much, is made by local residents. 

For more information on Neighbourhood Forum Grants in the Carlisle area contact the Carlisle Community Unit.