A VITAL community youth project in Buckfastleigh has secured funding to protect its future for the next five years.

The Bungalow Youth Project has received £328,470 over five years from The National Lottery Community Fund and £45,000 over three years from BBC Children in Need.

The cash will mean the project, which operates fromVictoria Park Lodge, will be able to continue to provide a safe, welcoming space for young people.

Spokesman Fanny Jackson said: ‘This is good news for local families and young people in Buckfastleigh have something to celebrate.

‘The Bungalow is more than just a building.

‘It’s somewhere young people can come straight from school, share food, spend time with friends, try new things, and feel part of something that matters.

‘This long-term funding means that space will keep growing — and it will continue to be shaped by young people themselves.’

The national Lottery Reaching Communities Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players to projects that help people and places thrive.

BBC Children in Need supports children and young people to be safe, happy and able to reach their potential.

What the funding will support: day-to-day running of the project and a stable, welcoming programme; youth worker roles and the growth of a skilled team; volunteer development and a wide range of activities designed with and led by young people — from creative sessions and community projects to trips and shared meals.

Now the project is expanding the team and is looking to appoint youth support workers, senior/lead youth worker and trainee youth manager

Fanny added: ‘At the heart of The Bungalow is a simple belief: young people thrive when they have somewhere they feel they belong.

‘This funding secures that place for the next five years — creating stability, deepening relationships, and opening up new opportunities for young people across Buckfastleigh.

‘Young people thrive when they have somewhere they feel they belong.’

A community open day is planned later this summer for visitors to see the space, meet the team, and celebrate the creativity and achievements of local young people.

The Bungalow was founded 10 years ago when

community members, youth workers, and local partners came together to open a vibrant, inclusive space for young people in Buckfastleigh.

Since then is has evolved in response to the needs of the community.

Its work has expanded from open-access youth sessions to a programme that includes: skills-building workshops, wellbeing support, and leadership development.

It also includes youth-led project, counselling services and one-to-one emotional well-being support.

There is also partnership with local schools, health services and other community groups.

The Bungalow is managed and supported by Buckfastleigh Community Development Project, a charity which supports the wellbeing, inclusion, and empowerment of local people through community-led projects and services.

For more information about the Bungalow Youth Project and current recruitment, visit: www.thebungalowyouthproject.co.uk