ORGANISERS of Westbury Youth Club are ‘over the moon’ with the success of the first session but are still appealing for volunteers to secure the future of the club.
After months of preparation, Leigh Park Community Centre opened its doors to welcome local children to Westbury’s new Youth Club. There was a delay in opening due to a lack of volunteers but enough came forward for the first session to be held.
One of the volunteers, Carolyn May, said, “Well, I would say, for the first session, it was a huge success! I was so relieved to see kids walk through the door. It’s been a busy few weeks getting things together and you just don’t know if anyone is going to turn up – I’m over the moon!
“I’m relatively new to Westbury, having only lived here for two years but I was really keen to get involved in the community and this was the perfect opportunity. I have a background in youth work, having worked for the Amber Foundation in Trowbridge for 10 years.
“I really hope the youth club is a success because it’s such a brilliant asset for the town. Although it is in Westbury Leigh, it’s for the whole of the community.
“Local businesses have been brilliant, especially The Hollies Inn. Charlie has put up posters, handed out leaflets and his chef made us a wonderful chocolate cake for the opening, which was amazing and went down very well! We want to say a huge thank you to Charlie for his support and help.
“The people who have come forward as volunteers are brilliant but we still need more. Please, if you can help in any way, get in touch. Without volunteers, we can’t run the club.”
Councillor David Jenkins said, “It’s very nice to see the children here. The youth club is very important, it’s something the community has needed for some `time. Since the children’s centre closed, there’s been a vacuum, but hopefully this will fill the vacuum.
“The key to its success is volunteers; they are the cornerstone and without them the club cannot survive.”
18 year-old Will Heron, a volunteer at the youth club said, “I wanted to do something to give back and spend my time helping out. I’m a student at Matravers so I’m busy with schoolwork but whatever time I can give, I will.
“I think the youth club is great; it gives kids something to do and something to look forward to. It’s also a good way to meet new people and socialise.
Claire Able whose son went to the opening of the youth club said, “I think it’s great. My son goes to Kingdown School so he doesn’t mix with other kids from the area as much. It’s a nice age bracket as well – I hope it’s a success.”
Sarah Morgan, another parent from Westbury said, “It’s a good opportunity for them to socialise and hang out with their friends rather than being stuck in front of a screen, which is what they would normally be doing!”
The youth club will run every Wednesday from 6-8pm until the new year and organisers hope to introduce the second session soon. Sessions welcome those who are disabled or have special educational needs.
