BROMSGROVE’S Basement Project has been awarded a £75,000 cash injection from the Lloyds Bank Foundation, meaning the charity can carry on its vital work.

The charity works with people aged between 16 and 25 supporting homeless and vulnerable young people.

The grant will go towards helping young people find somewhere to live.

Jackie Hooper, CEO of Basement Project, said the investment is "recognition in the value of work" the charity is doing and is over the moon with the support from the bank foundation.

She said: “It will enable us to continue the work we do and support young people who are vulnerable, in crisis and need help to enable them to move on.

“We also value the help we have received in the past, including helping to finance us setting up our computerised data base and providing a mentor to help with our marketing."

She added: “Getting continuation funding is becoming ever more challenging so this help from the foundation is greatly appreciated.”

The Basement Project is one of seven charities in the West Midlands supported in Lloyds Bank Foundation’s latest funding round, which awarded £506,466 across the region, tackling issues including domestic violence, homelessness and care leavers living independently.

Paul Streets, chief executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation, said the quiet crisis facing local authorities and ever tightening budgets mean vulnerable people are having to rely on the support of local charities like Basement Project.

“We’re proud to partner with the Basement Project as part of Lloyds Banking Group’s plan to Help Britain Prosper, supporting the costs of their work, strengthening them, and helping raise their voice among the policy-makers and decision-makers their future depends on," he said.

“They’re not just a ‘nice to have’ – their work makes a vital difference, day in, day out to people’s lives.”

Statistics reveal young homeless people are amongst the most vulnerable in society, with 42 per cent having mental health problems along with 18 per cent having attempted suicide.