Bridport Youth Centre opens its doors ‘under new management’

Bridport Youth Centre, recently taken over from Dorset County Council by the newly formed Bridport Youth and Community Centre Trust, will open its doors again on Friday night this week for the first youth club under the new management. Youth services are being managed by Active Learning and Skills which took over and runs many youth clubs in Somerset after services there are closed. Previous youth workers are being employed so regular attendees at youth club will have continuity.

The ‘massive’ achievement of keeping the Bridport Youth and Community Centre running has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by councillors after the trust took control of the buildings lease.

Bridport Town Council’s Environmental and Social Wellbeing Committee recently met and discussed the latest update to the work at the centre.

Cllr Kelvin Clayton, who is a trustee, told the meeting how the new charitable trust had now taken possession of the lease of the youth centre building.

A part time coordinator has also been employed by the trust and it has now secured a company which will a able to deliver youth clubs on Wednesday and Friday night.

This will come at an annual cost of around £9,400 and the trust is also in the process of putting together a 100 club which would see 100 people giving £5 a month for a cash prize off £100 each month, with the rest of the money going towards youth centre operation.

Bridport Town Counsil Clerk, Bob Gillis said: “it’s been a massive achievement to get the trust established, to get the five trustees to come forward. It’s a lot of work. We’ve now got a good charity in place.”

Cllr Anne Rickard proposed the committee has a vote of thanks for the trustees and described their work as “incredible”.

Cllr Clayton added that there’s already a lot of fundraising going on to run the centre and that the cost of running the club on Wednesday and Friday nights should go down year on year.

After the meeting chairman of the trust, cllr Ros Kayes said: “we are really pleased that ALS have been able to step up to the plate and provide youth club again so quickly. We have huge plans for the centre but the number one priority has been keeping youth club going so the young people don’t see a loss of service. We start on Friday and hope to start Wednesday Club asap too. This is down to the Town Council who have paid for a session a week of youth club but i’d also like to thank all the people and organisations who’ve been raising money for the centre. We’ve got a great management plan in place and the trustee’s are raring to go. Friday night will be the first night of a new start for Bridport Youth Centre.”

Earlier this year, Dorset County Council agreed to withdraw funding from youth centres, including Bridport Youth and Community Centre, to concentrate on a new focused service.

Anyone who wants to help by volunteering at the youth centre should email bridportycc@hotmail.com

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