ALMOST one in three children in Wrexham is living in poverty - prompting a charity's mission to give youngsters life-shaping experiences.

According to the End Child Poverty Coalition, in 2017/18 more than 29,000 children were living in poverty after housing costs in North Wales, including 29 per cent of children in Wrexham, the highest percentage in North Wales, and 26 per cent in Flintshire

The figures have prompted a call from youth charity YHA (England & Wales) to help raise funds to change the lives of disadvantaged young people living in North Wales.

The charity, which has a network of youth hostels in England and Wales, wants to raise enough money through its Project90 campaign to give a total of 900 young people a life enriching residential adventure; 90 of those young people will be from Wales.

Recent statistics show that there has never been a greater need to support vulnerable young people, with 30 per cent of children are living in poverty in the UK.

Recent analysis has shown that the number of children living below the breadline - despite being in a working family – has increased by 38% since the decade began.

Despite the fact the number of children in Wales living in poverty has declined slightly by 4 per cent since 2010, in Wales 119,693 children were living in poverty in 2018.

The YHA charity wants to ensure that children who need them the most do not miss out on life-shaping experiences.

This Christmas, YHA wants to raise enough money to send North Wales’ most vulnerable young people on a two-night adventure-packed holiday, including transport and all meals, to one of its youth hostels.

Project90 is YHA’s most ambitious campaign in the charity’s history. Since its formation 90 years ago in the throes of The Great Depression, YHA has given thousands of young people across the country the chance to experience the transformative effects of travel and adventure. But there are still children who are missing out. Whether they are suffering with illness, are a carer for a parent, or simply can’t afford it – some have never seen the sea, mountains or animals in the wild.

Donations will enable children at who need it the most to have an unforgettable adventure, filled with adrenaline-fuelled activities like rock climbing, abseiling and gorge scrambling at YHA Snowdon Pen y Pass.

Charlie Simpson, head of fundraising at YHA, said: “We know that getting out of your comfort zone, being physically active and being outdoors all have hugely positive effects on physical and mental wellbeing which is exactly what young people living challenging lives need. Having experiences like YHA provides shape and develop us, and it’s very important to us that nobody is left behind. Your generosity will help shape young people in your area.”

Research has shown that staying in a youth hostel can be transformative with people reporting increased physical activity, improved family relationships, greater life satisfaction, reduced isolation and greater appreciation for the environment. The charity wants to bring these benefits to more young people in the area.

Project90 marks the charity’s 90th anniversary which it celebrates in 2020. It aims to reach a total of 900 young people across the 10 regions of England and Wales, but it can only do so through donations from generous members of the public.

Charlie added: “Project90 will allow us to reach those young people in the area who are most in need, but we can only achieve our ambition if people donate.”

To donate visit yha.org.uk/donate