A BOLTON charity has praised a “lifeline cheque” which will provide three years’ worth of financial support.

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has donated £60,000 to Xplode Magazine to help improve support for disadvantaged children and young people across Bolton and the North West.

Xplode launched ambitious plans last year to expand across Greater Manchester as it set out to train 10,000 young people in the city-region.

Saeed Atcha, CEO and founder of Xplode, said the cheque was a “symbol of faith” in young people.

He said: “At a time of strained resources across the sector, the funding from Esmée Fairbairn is lifeline cheque for us.

“It really demonstrates the faith in our mission and us, as young people, trying to make a difference.

“We are on track with our plans to roll out our employability training across Greater Manchester, as the only youth-led organisation here, and we are excited to build on the opportunities young people in Bolton and across the region are craving.”

Xplode Magazine was crowned a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016 for the difference it makes for young people in the borough.

The charity, which will celebrate its six-year anniversary in September, runs training sessions to help young people aged 16 to 25 with employability skills and it publishes a quarterly magazine showcasing articles created and edited by volunteers.

Catherine Hills, grant manager at the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, said: “As a funder we are keen to improve support for disadvantaged children and young people.

“We back exceptional people with inspiring, practical ideas and organisations that have developed new approaches.

“We are proud to support Xplode, a truly youth-led organisation whose unique model uses peer training to tackle the issue of persistent unemployment in Bolton and Greater Manchester.”