Frith Youth CentreLast updated 3 June 2008 See our entry in the Parish Directory on this site. Our AGM report 2007/2008 is below. The Frith Youth Centre is located opposite the Skate Ramp in Bussage Playing Field. The Centre is managed by a group of Trustees and a Management Committee. If you are interested in helping out in any way please let us know – we always need volunteers for supervision during activities, and are specially interested to hear from anyone, particularly parents who would volunteer a little time to be on the Management Committee. Contact Beth on 01453 885 056 (see below). ACTIVITIES
For further details contact Beth on 01453 885056 or email ANNUAL REPORT 2007/8Another AGM and the Frith Youth Centre is still going strong. The Junior Club said goodbye to Michelle Salter and Robert Tyrrell was appointed in her place as Youth Support Worker, with Anna Pearson who has been a young volunteer and now is training to work with children. Young volunteers John Smith & Ben Underwood also help with this club. More project work is planned for this 9 to 13 years group with the emphasis on sport & art. Charlotte Watson ably runs the Senior Club for 13 to 18 year olds with the help of Helena Sherwood. Volunteer Pete Wormington is also a quiet presence at this club and always on hand for a game of pool or table tennis or to supervise a darts match and Laura Northcott also comes in to help as a young volunteer. As well as games, activities such as cooking & aerobics are encouraged and occasional trips are arranged; go karting was the choice last term. A new venture this year was Café Base, a lively Christian youth club for 11 to 14 year olds, run by a local church group. This was welcomed by the Management Committee as it increases the variety of options on offer to our young people, and it has been a great success. The ever popular Dance & Skateboarding clubs continue to thrive. The Graffiti Art Project gave those taking part an opportunity to work with professional artists to design and paint a mural. Working in partnership with Thomas Keble School, an enthusiastic group gathered in the games room during the spring half term with Myrn Fisher & 'Chalkie' to transfer their planned art work to the walls, with stunning results. A Garden Project to turn the area behind the youth club into a more user friendly space got off to a slower start. The youngsters drew up rather ambitious plans for this and we thank Caroline Croft for a design that incorporated most of what was asked for in a do-able plan, with a raised bed for the Juniors to grow things, seating for the Seniors and a hard play area for everyone. Club members will help with the permanent planting once the groundwork is done and we hope to encourage growing things to eat and to attract wildlife next spring. Our thanks go to many people; to our volunteers, which include of course the members of the management committee, to Andy Brooks from Michinhampton Youth Centre for his support and advice, to the 'Friends' who donate a regular gift aided subscription, and to all the organisations and individuals who keep us going with grants and donations. All our activities are subsidised to make them affordable for all young people, insurance and maintenance costs have to be found and youth workers & project leaders paid, so we are grateful to the trusts and councils who respond to our constant appeals for money. The audited accounts are available on request. The Frith Youth Centre is a charity run by our community, not a statutory service provided by the authorities. It has been run by volunteers since the 1950’s when it started as the Bussage Boys Club, and volunteers are still needed on the committee to take overall responsibility and drive it forward. But - at the moment the committee is fading away; several original members have gone with no replacements coming forward. Our chairman, Ben Morris is resigning after many years service on the committee, seeing through the revival of the club and the refurbishment of the building as well as working to promote sporting activities. Three of us are over 70, and willing as we are, we do need some younger volunteers coming in to take over, so a real effort to find new people to join us must be a priority in the coming year to ensure the survival of the Frith Youth Centre. Are you interested? Could you help us? For information contact Susan Newson on 01453 882750, or Beth Jenkins on 01453 885056. 3 June 2008 | |