Watford YMCA will set up a new youth volunteering programme after a similar national scheme was closed due to “short sighted” government funding cuts.

vinvolved, which was run by Watford and District YMCA for three years, helped more than 7,000 16 to 25-year-olds into volunteer roles across the county.

However, it closed on March 31 with the loss of five youth workers.

The project aimed to inspire a new generation of volunteers across the country by creating ways for them to become involved in the community.

Julia Collar, head of youth development, said: “We are extremely proud of everything we have achieved through this project and we have exceeded every target that has been set.

“The young people we have worked with have benefited from increased employability and life chances, and many have been able to have a significant impact in their community by raising money, leading their own projects, befriending vulnerable people, or putting on events.

“With all the talk of Big Society, it is a very short-sighted move to cut funding from projects like this particularly as Big Society is so reliant on us being able to inspire and upskill young people in community development skills to evolve the culture of volunteering and mutual support that Big Society is all about.”

Watford YMCA has now committed £30,000 to set up its own volunteering project.

Julia added: “We believe so passionately in youth volunteering that we are making every effort to sustain the legacy of vinvolved for as long as we possibly can.

“Our new project will be much smaller to start with and will focus only on working with vulnerable and challenging young people.

“However, we will be working very hard to raise more money to extend our reach in the future.”