Whitefield Youth Association

The main purpose of WYA is to develop and enhance the life opportunities of young people and wider communities that suffer from marginalisation and social economic disadvantage.

Whitefield Youth Association, (WYA), is a Registered Charity, Charity Registration 1163520, based in Pendle, East Lancashire that was set up by a group of volunteers in 2002 to respond to the Burnley disturbances that blighted the area which caused irreparable damage to community relations. The organisation supports young people across Burnley & Pendle that come from deprived backgrounds and marginalised communities who face barriers in fulfilling their potential and enhance their life opportunities as well as raising the awareness of being a responsible citizen in the community.

It has evolved and grown from being just a voluntary organisation that was originally used in an advisory capacity by stakeholders to provide guidance and support in engagement and consultation with local communities to recently becoming a fully fledged Registered Charity. Formalising itself in 2006 to deliver service provision and in 2007 securing 3 years funding by The Henry Smith Charitable Trust, it is now recognised across Burnley & Pendle as a key provider in the delivery of service provision to young people and marginalised and disadvantaged communities residing in East Lancashire as well as a key player locally in the Voluntary & Community Sector. Its high quality delivery, engagement approaches and innovation in understanding and responding to changing community needs has been recognised by key stakeholders nationally, regionally and locally by the Centre For Social Justice, Department For Communities & Local Government, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council, Burnley Borough Council and Pendle Borough Council.

The organisation has come a long way in becoming one of the major innovative providers of services to communities locally which are hard to reach with particular emphasis on young people that suffer from multiple deprivation. Our model is based on developing self-responsibility in individuals and tempering that with our support to enhance their quality of life. This has all been possible due to the fact that The Henry Smith Charitable Trust initially funded the organisation in 2007.

Tags: Charity Organization,Non-Profit Organization