A GENEROUS donation will provide a much-needed boost for a valuable service for young people in Sutherland Shire.
It came in the form of $10,000 — a welcome gift from Kurnell business ESG Asia Pacific, to assist Project Youth in their community work at Kurnell Youth Centre.
The grant means the centre can operate for another year.
The centre provides assistance to young people, including a drop-in service twice a week, and organises events and school holiday activities for teenagers.
Earlier this year Project Youth was told the Kurnell centre would close because of funding cuts.
Project Youth reached out to ESG and their foundation, which previously supported educational projects run by Project Youth at its Menai centre.
An existing relationship between the two was already established when it offered casual employment to at-risk youth.
ESG Foundation co-ordinator Alice Allen was delighted to help.
"Our foundation is about supporting projects or individuals who create educational opportunities for young people [here] or overseas," she said.
"The support Project Youth provides is so valuable.
"We would have been devastated to see the closure of the Kurnell centre and we certainly hope our donation inspires other local business to get behind the centre and local community in the future."
Through their fundraising efforts, youth at the Kurnell centre also pitched in to keep their centre afloat, through arts and craft stalls, an auction, a raffle and a car wash.
Project Youth executive officer Kellie Checkley said it was a fantastic effort.
"Every 12 months we struggle to find the money," she said.
