YOUNG Lives was established in 2006 as an umbrella organisation for the voluntary and community sector working with children, young people and families across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

YOUNG Lives was established in 2006 as an umbrella organisation for the voluntary and community sector working with children, young people and families across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

In just four years, the charity has grown from six staff to almost 30 and operates out of four offices across the county.

Kevin Burke, fundraiser for Young Lives, said: “The heart of our mission is to improve the lives of children and young people and we have dedicated strands of work that support the organisations that provide services to children and young people.”

One of the charity’s most popular projects is the Jam Van, a van kitted out with the latest multi-media technology, including eight Mac computers. The van is made available to groups and clubs, who can use it to hold mini-workshops, encouraging youngsters to be creative.

Kevin said: “We work with different groups right across Cambridgeshire. It allows young people to get involved in media. It’s all about bringing creativity to them and making a positive impact.

“Young Lives is all about empowering young people and helping them take control of their lives. We give them a voice.”

Young Lives is also involved with the V Involved project, a national scheme that encourages people aged 16 to 25 to help out in their communities through volunteering.

To help support its upcoming diary of events and to make sure the charity can continue to help youngsters in Cambridgeshire, Young Lives is also looking to recruit a team of volunteer fundraisers willing to go that extra mile for the charity. Young Lives would like to hear from anyone that is passionate about young people, can spare a few hours, is confident talking to the general public and has a good sense of humour.

For the first of its upcoming events, Young Lives have teamed up with the Grafham Water Visitor Centre to host the Grafham Charity Bike Ride on June 27. Young Lives has opened up the event to other charities, to allow them to use the event to raise funds for themselves too.

Later in the year, more than 200 young volunteers are putting on two fashion shows, reflecting the decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, by redesigning vintage and charity shop clothing. The shows will be on September 26 at the St Ives Corn Exchange, and the next day at The Junction in Cambridge.

The aim of the show is to raise money for good causes and the beneficiaries this year are the British Heart Foundation and The Teenage Cancer Trust’s Ward at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, as well as Young Lives.

Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Hogarth, said: “2010 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Young Lives, with the launch of its new website offering our services to both existing and new members, as well as a host of new initiatives and fundraising activities aimed at giving young people more opportunities in their community.”

To find out more about our upcoming events or how you can work with Young Lives visit our website www.young-lives.org.uk or contact Kevin Burke, Fundraiser on 01480 495524, email kevin@young-lives.org.uk