MONEY raised by BBC Children in Need is being invested in youth projects across the region.

With the money raised from public donations, BBC Children in Need said it is currently funding 20 projects throughout the Tees Valley starting with Darlington.

As the first funding allocation of the year, it has been announced that £63,859 is being awarded to Darlington's Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre.

The grant will be awarded over a period of three years, to provide one to one counselling support for young people across County Durham and Darlington who have experienced sexual violence.

The project aims to provide a safe space where young people can engage with counselling in an age-appropriate way to help improve their emotional health and wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping them to build positive relationships.

Elizabeth Myers, Regional Head of the North at BBC Children in Need, said: “We are pleased to fund the work of Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre and look forward to seeing the difference that this grant will make to children and young people across the region.

"We are incredibly grateful for the public’s generosity as without them this funding simply wouldn’t be possible.”

BBC Children in Need awards funding at six intervals during the year through two types of grants.

A Main Grants Programme supports projects for up to three years with grants over £10,000 per year while Small Grants Programmes support projects with grants up to and including £10,000 per year.

BBC Children in Need’s Chief Executive, Simon Antrobus said: "As always, thanks must go to our generous supporters and fundraisers - we are only able to make these much needed awards because of them.

"Each project will go on to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in communities across the UK who really do need our help, so thank you for making these grants possible."

Alongside the Main and Small Grants Programmes, BBC Children in Need have re-opened Curiosity - a partnership with Wellcome - which awards grants to organisations using inspiring science activities to create change for disadvantaged children and young people.

BBC Children in Need relies on the thousands of supporters and fundraisers who raise millions of pounds for the charity every year.

To date the UK public has raised over £1 billion for children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK.