HAMPSHIRE youngsters are set to benefit after an Eastleigh charity has been awarded more than £100K from BBC Children in Need.

One Community will use a three-year grant of £119,451 to provide one to one after school support to young carers and school holiday activities.

The charity hopes this will make them feel less lonely, increase confidence and have fun making new friendships.

More than £243,000 has now been invested into the Eastleigh by the BBC charity.

The newly awarded grant comes as Children in Need celebrates a fundraising total of £58m for its 2018 Appeal.

According to the "incredible total" would not have been possible without the public coming together to help raise money to change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

The 2018 total was raised through the efforts of "every single person across the UK" who held rambles, dance-a-thons and duck races, to sky diving, quiz nights and bake sales.

Options and young carers manager at One Community Hayley Malcolm, commented: “This grant will allow us to continue to support young carers in the local community and provide a fun, safe space for them with a supportive network of individuals where they can open up and build confidence.”

BBC Children in Need regional officer of the South and West, Pam Bacon said: “The generosity of the British public allows us to continue supporting projects through our main grant programme, and projects like this continue to be a supportive environment for children and young people. We can’t wait to see how the funding will benefit the community.”

The charity currently awards grants at six points during the year and funds two types of grants.

The main grants programme is for grants over £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years.

Meanwhile, the small grants programme supports projects for up to three years and includes grants up to and including £10,000 per year.

BBC Children in Need supports over 3,000 local charities and projects in communities across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.