The new year looks bright for the Brentwood Foyer thanks to a £46,000 grant from the European Social Fund.

The grant was applied for in October in a joint bid by Brentwood Borough Council, Blackwater Housing Association, which operates the Brentwood Foyer, and other scheme partners.

The money will be used to finance training, equipment and facilities at the Foyer in Warley and will also help to pay employment costs of the Foyer manager and training support worker.

Chris Wayman, head of housing and welfare services at Brentwood council, said: "The training support worker employed at the Foyer will network and form links in the community.

"For example, the Foyer is already forming strong links with the Brentwood Training Centre and the support worker would extend these links to other training organisations and potential employers in the town.

"Some of this money will be used to fund this very important position and we are extremely pleased to receive the grant."

Siobhan Cooper from Blackwater Housing Association said: "We are absolutely delighted with this grant. It means that we will be able to provide a great service to young people in Brentwood."

Foyer champion and housing chairman Cllr Vicky Cook said she was "thrilled to bits" with the news.

She added: "I am absolutely delighted with the grant. This is now the next phase. We had the money to build the scheme from the Capital Challenge Fund and now this grant will ensure the running of the scheme for the first couple of years."

The Brentwood Foyer is due to open for business in March and will provide accommodation and training opportunities for 40 young people aged between 16 and 25.

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