A CHARITY that helps young people develop skills and build confidence has a new website, thanks to the youngest recruit at a Kendal company.

Dan Crossley, 21, designed and built the site for Chestnut Community Events which assists children, young people, and adults.

He is the newest member of the team at Kendal-based SYPO and a former pupil at Kirkbie Kendal School.

Dan joined the company with a first class degree in Business Entrepreneurship and Computing Innovations at the University of Cumbria in Lancaster.

Chestnut Community Events provides activities for children and young people in Cumbria, particularly the South Lakes area, in nurseries, primary and secondary schools, clubs, and organisations.

Project manager Jan Quinn said: “As we grow stronger together we need volunteers to help us in any way they can. We are looking for trustees, ambassadors, gardeners/horticultural volunteers, and others to assist with administration, fundraising and marketing and joining a management committee.

“It’s vital to have a good website to do this effectively. SYPO have been a great help. Dan is always professional, patient and very understanding. We feel very pleased that we have been dragged into the modern world!”

The new site also incorporates a regular video-blog provided by Sam Willacy, a service user who volunteers in the local community.

He is now able to show a wide audience the videos he is making about his work with other volunteers in the community garden at Westmorland General Hospital.

“I love horticulture but I need support in many ways to be more independent in the community with the different abilities and needs that I have," Sam said.

“Being part of this charity has assisted me in many ways not only with new skills to add to my qualifications, but with my medical needs, emotionally and socially, which is something I struggle with. I had an idea to make a vlog about all the aspects of work I am involved with and I am really excited about the opportunity.”