Young people aged 11–17 in Milton Keynes are set to benefit from free, one-to-one mentoring support, thanks to funding allocated by local councillor Shazna Muzammil from her Ward Budget.
Cllr Muzammil, member for Tattenhoe Ward, has directed part of her community budget to Action4Youth, a local charity delivering vital support, employability and enrichment programmes for young people across Milton Keynes. The funding will support several young people in accessing their free 12-week mentoring programme, which provides early intervention and tailored guidance for those who need additional support to reach their full potential.
Cllr Muzammil said: "One of the reasons I stood to serve as a councillor was to support young people and help create better opportunities for them. Early support like this can be life-changing — giving young people the confidence, direction and belief they need to make positive choices for their future. I hope this helps our young people get the right support at the right time, when it matters most."
Action4Youth deliver a wide range of programmes across Milton Keynes, including holiday activity programmes, a drop-in youth centre, a 12-week anti knife and gang programme, and their year-long Inspiration Programme which broadens horizons and encourages ambition in the classroom.
Cllr Muzammil recently visited the charity's outdoor learning centre, Caldecotte Xperience, touring the facility and meeting with the leadership team to see their work first-hand.
She added: "Spending time with the team and seeing their work was incredibly powerful. You can see the impact immediately — young people being given opportunities, support and a sense of purpose. This is exactly the kind of work we should be backing as a community."
During her visit, Cllr Muzammil also learned of the recent theft of the charity's minibus, which was later recovered destroyed and without an engine — a significant blow to a charity that relies on it to transport young people to its programmes.
She said: "To see a charity doing so much good targeted in this way is deeply upsetting. This minibus was a lifeline for many young people. I hope the community will rally around Action4Youth as they recover from this. Anyone who can support the charity can donate directly at Support Us | Ways to Support Charity Action4Youth."
Benedicta Morrow, Action4Youth CEO, said: "We are enormously grateful for this support. Our mentoring service provides young people with a safe, non-judgemental space to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Through guided reflection, our service offers them the support and encouragement to help them cope with a range of complex issues and make positive choices for their futures."
To find out more about Action4Youth or to donate, visit Support Us | Ways to Support Charity Action4Youth
