A £372,000 cash boost is set to lead to brighter futures for hundreds of young people on Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate.

The Blackbird Leys Community Development Initiative (Leys CDI) has been awarded the pot of cash over the next three years from the Big Lottery Fund.

The money will pay for dozens of new weekly activities and after-school courses for children on the estate, as well as vocational courses designed to help people into work.

Youth workers said they hoped the free activities would encourage children to spend less time on the street and would inspire them to think about their futures.

Leys CDI worker Dayne Daniels, 26, said: “There is definitely a lot of excitement because the young people will come away with something from the programme, be it knowledge of first aid and hygiene or knowing how to record their own music.

“We are trying to get young people thinking for the future.

“These are our men and women of tomorrow. If we give them these opportunities, hopefully they will have a better understanding of life – and what they can do with it.”

Last week the charity, which was established 15 years ago to provide activities for youngsters in the holidays, showcased activities and courses on offer, at Blackbird Leys Community Centre.

The courses, which start over the next few months, will include cookery classes, T-shirt design workshops and driving lessons.

Project co-ordinator Marsha Jackson said 360 people, aged between nine and 25, would benefit from the cash, with around 50 expected to achieve NVQ qualifications, which could lead to employment.

Cash will also pay for five part-time youth workers to run courses, and for equipment, including four table tennis tables, top-of-the-range video editing programmes and four computers.

Ms Jackson said: “We have got a lot of young people here on the estate, but what is out there for them?

“I believe this will change the estate because young people will be involved in learning, running, organising and decision making, and it will give them a chance to do new activities.”

Mother-of-two Stevie Brackett, 23, of Blackbird Leys, said: “The money is a massive achievement.

“There are some bored children that need stuff to do to keep them off the streets.

“I wish there had been something like this for me when I was young. Maybe I would have been a bit further on than I am at the moment.”

Ellia Townsend, 14, of Centuary Place, Greater Leys, and her friend Levi Hyde-Thomas, also 14, of Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, are both members of the youth management team which was responsible for getting the project off the ground.

Ellia said: “This will help change the attitudes of young people because they will learn new things.

For information about courses, call Marsha Jackson on 01865 395927.