Doorways kept open.

Last September, things looked bleak for Saltburn’s Doorways project. Based at Saltburn’s Station Buildings the project was set up in 1998 by Saltburn Christian Projects to offer support, advice and a drop-in centre for teenagers and young adults. Needing £50,000 a month to survive, three staff members had to be laid off and project co-ordinator John Pearson admits the door was about to shut permanently. An initial £7,000 donation from Tees Valley Community Foundation’s local network fund help prevent the closure and additional funding has since been found so that the immediate future at least has been secured. Grants include £25,000 for each of the next two years from Northern Rock, £4,000 from Redcar and Cleveland Partnership’s community fund and, from the Youth Opportunities Fund, £2,000 to help young people with drug, alcohol and risk-taking behaviour issues. And thanks to £4,000 from Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, the young people using the scheme will be able to write and read all about it in their own youth newspaper. However, the project still needs at least £35,000 a year to meet its running costs and the search for funding continues.

Visit www.doorways-project.org or call 01287 625305.