Three of Aldershot’s most successful community businesses have joined forces with Surrey’s GASP Motor Project to kick-start the lives of local young homeless people.

GASP, in association with Spedeworth Motorsports and Aldershot Town FC, have provided a car which is being renovated by clients of the town’s Step By Step homeless charity, ready to compete at Aldershot Raceway in March.

Four young people are learning how to repair the Vauxhall Astra 1.6, working at Spedeworth’s Hollybush Lane HQ for three hours every Friday afternoon to upgrade it to race specifications. One of the student mechanics will then race the car at the start of the next Spedeworth season.

Launched in Surrey in 2005, as a diversionary activity for young people involved in joyriding and car theft, GASP Motor Project help to change behaviours and support young people in making a successful transition into adult life through education, employment and training. Initially providing evening mechanics lessons and a go-kart track in a custom-built motor workshop, GASP moved to a larger workshop on the SITA site in Albury in July 2012.

Formed in 1961, Spedeworth Motorsports are the UK’s largest Short Oval racing promoters, racing at purpose-built stadiums across England, including Aldershot Raceway at Rushmoor Arena. Featuring a mixture of contact and non-contact classes – including the spectacular National Hot Rods, a variety of Banger classes and the mighty Brisca F1 Stock Cars – Spedeworth also race at Wimbledon, Eastbourne, Ipswich and Great Yarmouth, plus in conjunction with Incarace at Hednesford Hills, Northampton International Raceway and Birmingham Wheels.

Aldershot charity Step By Step empower homeless people and those facing adversity with a structured combination of services including accommodation, support, training, and counselling. Offering drop-in support and advice services, plus emergency shelter accommodation, education and employment training, and family mediation, Step By Step help people achieve their full potential.