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Each year Children in Need help so many different charities and projects, so it's good to hear about local projects that have been funded.

One project in the Black Country that has benefited from Children in Need is run by the Frank F Harrison Community Association in Bloxwich.

Riders

They run a Scrambling Bike Project that uses motorbike scrambling as an engagement tool for socially excluded young people.

The project helps 63 young people aged between 11 and 16 in the Bloxwich area of Walsall, encouraging them to work towards a youth award and improving damaged self esteem.

They work with NEETS (those not in education, employment or training). They are often young people who have been excluded from school and come from a range of difficult circumstances or family backgrounds.

The Scrambing Bike Project uses motor mechanics, riding skills, peer mentoring skills and social skills as a series of challenges that they must meet in order to achieve the awards.

Karl

The project takes place at a scramble track and in the youth centre.

In 2007 Children in Need awarded them Β£15,519 to fund new safety equipment, signage, change facilities and track restructuring at a local motorcycle scramble track.

It was the first time they'd received money from Children in Need.

Karl, a 15 year old from Brownhills is one young lad who's taken part in the project. He didn't get on with school. He’s been using the bike track for 5 years.Μύ

"It makes you feel like you can socialise with other people... I'm more confident now. It's just changed my opportunities really."

Jessica Bennett, Youth & Play Coordinator

Karl has now been helped to the extent that he's interested in doing an apprenticeship to become a plumber - a level of ambition he couldn't have dreamed of before.

Jessica Bennett is the Youth & Play Coordinator. She said: "We use scrambling as an engagement tool and indirectly focus on learning other skills and other qualities and their social skills as well as theΜύyouth accreditation they do while they’re here."

The money donated by Children in Need helped to save this project from closure and ensured Karl and others like him carry on being supported.