A CHARITY which has used Comic Relief funds to help young people with drugs and alcohol problems has welcomed the Oxford Mail’s Red Nose Day cash campaign.

Abingdon Bridge got £73,000 from the fundraising laugh-athon last year for its alcohol and drugs programme.

For the first time, a £50,000 Red Nose Day Community Cash fund is being made available to communities across the county.

And we will be handing out grants of £500 to £1,000 to successful small charities and organisations.

Manager Gary Hibbins, 25, said: “We run one-to-one sessions for people affected by alcohol and drugs.

“We also run sessions in schools and other youth clubs, educating people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.”

He said: “There are a lot of drugs on the market that are damaging young people and they don’t know about them.

“Our work is really dynamic and comes from people who have actually been in those situations.

“It is not about just going in and saying ‘don’t do drugs, they are bad for you’, it’s about identifying those risks and empowering young people to make the decisions themselves.”

The 15-year-old project has six employees and five volunteers and sees about 60 youngsters, aged 13-25, each week on issues including sexual health, housing, jobs and education.

Mr Hibbins said: “I have been about in youth work, so I know this project is special.

“I think there needs to be an Abingdon Bridge in every town in Oxfordshire, especially now the Government cuts are taking hold.”

“The Comic Relief money made an absolutely massive difference, it was a real pinnacle and turning point for the charity.

“I would urge any charity that wants to make a difference to the lives of young people to apply for this money.”

Laurie Marcks, 16, came to the charity after leaving his family home and said it had helped him find new accommodation.

He said: “They have changed my perspective on things. I used to be quite an idiot, to be honest. It is levelled me out and made me think about where I am going.

“If I had not come here that day I would not be where I am today, which is in a lot more positive position than I was.”

For more information on how to apply for the grants, visit oxfordmail.co.uk/li/red_nose or call 01865 798666. The closing date for applicants is Thursday, March 10. We also want to know about your Red Nose Day events, both beforehand and afterwards, so upload stories and pictures at oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yournews