![\"Wish](\"https:\/\/bctaspire.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/wishcampaign.jpg\")
<\/a>The BCT Aspire Youth Programme based in the Billingham Syntyhonia Club are collecting Wish token.\u00a0 They are a social enterprise which encourages young people to raise their aspirations is looking for a helping hand from Gazette readers.<\/p>\nBillingham-based BCT Aspire CIC has signed up for the Evening Gazette\u2019s Wish campaign.<\/p>\n
Based in Billingham Community Centre on The Causeway, it was set up three years ago by Paul Burgum.<\/p>\n
It aims to \u201craise the aspirations of local children and young people through positive recreational activity\u201d<\/p>\n
Its work includes running weekly youth and music sessions for local children, creating apprenticeship\/volunteer opportunities and providing family events for the community.<\/p>\n
Managing director Paul\u2019s sponsored walks and runs raise funds for local charities including the Jo and Mya Memorial Fund and Sick Children\u2019s Trust.<\/p>\n
BCT Aspire currently works with more than 60 young people every week to help raise their confidence, ability and social skills through activities. People with learning and mental health difficulties are also supported.<\/p>\n
Paul said the project is \u201ccompletely unfunded\u201d, relying on trade from its outside catering business and Billingham Community Centre Cafe to keep the sessions running.<\/p>\n
He said this means its profits continually go back into the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why the Wish campaign is hugely important to us, as it would help us to improve the delivery of our weekly services and aid with running costs to keep the sessions going and make them more sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan Duff, of BCT Aspire, said they were \u201cextremely honoured\u201d to take part in Wish and would greatly appreciate the help of any supporters collecting tokens.<\/p>\n
BCT Aspire is just one of many groups and organisations taking part in this year\u2019s Wish.<\/p>\n
The Gazette has \u00a340,000 to be shared between all groups registered on the scheme. They collect tokens printed daily in the Gazette and the more tokens a group collects, the bigger their share of the cash.<\/p>\n
To support BCT Aspire send your Wish tokens to Billingham Community Centre, The Causeway, Billingham, TS23 2DA.<\/p>\n
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Thanks to the Evening Gazette<\/p>\n
Andy Passant\u00a0for Article and Doug Moody for Photograph<\/p>\n