Wyke student Glen Hartley has recently organised a winning bid of nearly £24,000 for ‘Pet Respect’, his animal welfare group based in Hull. Pet Respect was founded by Hull community worker Kim Hepple and Glen’s mother, Marina, to promote good pet ownership and reduce the level of harm inflicted on animals, often by children. Glen headed the campaign, which was submitted to Hull City Council’s Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds.

Both Funds come from cash from the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of the Government’s Aiming High programme, a ten-year strategy to provide positive activities for young people. Glen decided to put in an application to buy a van to transport Pet Respect’s team of volunteers, equipment and three-year-old border collie Jess as a way of enabling the group to expand their work in schools and at community events in Hull and beyond.

The funds will not only pay for the van but will also help the Pet Respect team to start a Youth Club for young people aged 11-25 years who will be able to learn new skills from the volunteers. Glen said ‘Although people think £24,000 seems like a lot of money, the van will take up a big proportion of this straight away, and it will all be well used’.