A COMMUNITY group which works with vulnerable young people is in with a chance of securing more than £38,000 to help fund its activities.

Drop Zone Youth Projects, which has operated in Barrow for 16 years, has made it to the final five of The People's Projects, a scheme run by the National Lottery in conjunction with ITV.

A report showcasing Drop Zone's Sphere Project will be aired tonight on Granada and the group are asking for people to vote for them online as the top three will receive up to £50,000.

Mike Cumming, chairman at Drop Zone Youth Projects said: “In the local environment here in Barrow borough, where funding has been cut and is almost non-existent, we rely on organisations such as the Big Lottery to help fund these specialist projects.

"Should we be successful, the money will help us enormously to meet the needs of less affluent young people who, in many cases, are being forgotten.

"I worry about the current generation not having the opportunities of previous generations and, if we can get the community to rally round and vote for us, then together we can make the future a reality for them."

The Sphere Project works with agencies to deliver interactive sessions on subjects such as sexual health, physical health, healthy eating and emotional wellbeing for young people.

Sessions are run twice weekly and also act as a gateway for young people that may require further intervention, such as self-harm support, NHS services and drug and alcohol support groups.

Dawn Austwick, Big Lottery Fund chief executive, said: “We are proud to support 12,000 projects every year that use the knowledge and ideas of local people to strengthen communities.

"The People’s Projects is a chance for you to decide how National Lottery funding can benefit your local community, so make sure you have your say on who you think should win.”

Drop Zone will be up against four other projects in the North West, though some from more densely-populated areas such as Liverpool.

Voting closes at noon on Monday April 3 and votes can be cast through the website www.thepeoplesproject.org.uk.

Since 2005, around £36m has been awarded through the Big Lottery Fund, National Lottery and ITV/STV partnership to 770 good causes across the UK.