Cirencester Housing For Young People is a charity based in the heart of Ciren, focused on providing temporary homes for teenagers with problems at home. It's run by people who care, and who want to give teenagers a chance to sort out their lives.

So it's a good cause - the community helping its own youngsters as they move to adulthood. the CDC provides much of its funding but I think it's important that Ciren residents support too. I've enjoyed seeing what CHYP is doing, and meeting staff and residents, and above all fund raising.

The article on the left is from this year's Standard, and shows the restaurants and bars in Castle Street contributing to an appeal I launched around Valentine's Day. Lots of visitors chipped in, and by using a tax efficient Charity Aid Foundation cheque we got the Inland Revenue to add a further 29%. £500 was raised for CHYP.

The latest appeal asks supporters to buy a brick for £5 to help the charity to buy a new building. Unofrtunately there's no website but please ring Andrew Coles at CHYP on 01285 655485 or write to him at 26 Ashcroft Road GL7 1QX for more detail.