A RESPECTED Grimsby charity that has helped more than 12,000 young people has celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The Motor Project, on King Edward Street, was set up in 1999 and has gone from strength to strength, now celebrating a decade in existence.

The project offers workshops on metalwork and woodwork, with activities during the day and at night.

It helps youngsters who are under-performing at schools, giving them the chance to work on something they are interested in.

At the celebrations to mark the milestone were founder members Andy Everett, former chairwoman Linda Clayton, former treasurer John Hayward and former secretary Keith Spriggs.

What started as a part-time venture funded by the Single Regeneration Budget, quickly became full-time due to its immediate success.

It is now funded by the Henry Smith Charity, the Peter De Haan Charitable Trust, National Lottery Big Play, North East Lincolnshire Council and Shoreline.

By the year 2000, the project had become a limited company by guarantee and had been given charitable status.

Over the years, it has also benefited from funding from the Fair Share Trust and the National Lottery, received through North East Lincolnshire Council's Play 4 All Scheme.

John Bell has been project manager for nine-and-a-half of its 10 years.

He said: "The popularity of the project meant we went full-time almost as soon as we had started.

"It continues to be as popular today.

"It is fantastic to be a part of and it is fantastic to have reached our 10th year – I don't think that could have been dreamt of when it started.

"Here's to another 10 years."

Out of the 12,000 plus youngsters to have used the project – 2,000 coming through the door in 2008 – there have been many success stories.

One was Andy Malkinson, 22, of Milton Road, Grimsby.

He has recently got a job working as an aircraft mechanic at Robin Hood Airport, near Doncaster.

He said: "I came here on the very first day it opened.

"I would say that without this place, I wouldn't be where I am today.

"The organisers came to my school at Wintringham and I was interested straightaway.

"What I learned was invaluable and I would recommend it to anyone.

"If they have the opportunity to go there, do it."

Jordan Beal, 13, of Grimsby, has been attending workshops at the project for the past year.

He said: "I came here to make friends and because I heard it was very good.

"I'm planning on making a small car.

"The project keeps you off the streets and is really good for the community."

Mr Spriggs said: "It is great to come back and see that things have progressed so much."

Mrs Clayton said: "It is just a shame that such a great project – that does so much – still doesn't get the funding that it deserves.

"More money should be put into something like this."

Mr Hayward added: "It is fair to say we are all proud to have been a part of setting this up."