A CHARITY’S project which supports vulnerable children in South Gloucestershire has made it through to the finals of a national competition.


1625 Independent People, based in Bristol, beat off stiff competition from 640 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards.


The charity’s young care-leavers four-year project ‘Future 4 Me’ is a finalist in the West of England ‘voluntary/charity category’.


Jamie Gill, partnerships director from 1625 Independent People, said: “It is wonderful recognition, not just for ‘Future 4 Me’s’ youth work, but for the often unsung achievements of the young people themselves.


“This award would also help us to secure future funding so we can continue to improve care-leaver’s lives.”


The charity is competing against six other organisations and the winner will get a £2,000 cash prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded Awards ceremony, broadcast on BBC One in September.


Future 4 Me supports some of the most vulnerable young people in the West of England, and since 2012 the project has helped 365 young people to make the transition from “looked after” in care or custody, to an independent lifestyle.


TV star and actor John Barrowman, who will be presenting the National Lottery Awards for the fifth time this year, said: “It is crucial that you show your support for your local project so it can get the national glory that it richly deserves.”


You can vote for Future 4 Me by visiting www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/future-4-me or calling 0844 836 9713 until midnight on Monday, July 29.