Youth group Real Roots Enterprise’s “Friday Night Project” has been given �10,000 by the Big Lottery Fund

A project to get Dalston kids off the streets on Friday nights, recording inspirational songs in a studio, has received a �10,000 boost from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).

Youth group Real Roots Enterprise’s “Friday Night Project” wants to harness the creativity of disadvantaged young people on the night of the week when they are most vulnerable to peer pressure and likely to engage in anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse and knife and gun crime.

The 20-week project based in a Shacklewell Lane studio offers youngsters the chance to DJ, write songs, produce and record music and perform live.

Hopeton Allen, CEO of Real Roots Enterprise, said: “We aim to help develop aspiring talent, especially among deprived and disenfranchised young people in Hackney, and help them to deliver positive and inspirational songs, with clean lyrics that help create a positive lifestyle.

“You would be amazed at the difference a project like this can make - so many young lives have been lost in Hackney from gang, gun and knife crime, but a scheme like this can help show young people that there is another way.”

BIG’s Awards for All programme offers grants of between �300 and �10,000 to social and environmental projects that will benefit local communities and make a difference to the lives of those most in need.