Westbury Youth Club open and thriving

WESTBURY Youth Club has enjoyed welcoming  existing and new members since reopening after Covid restrictions lifted.

Leader, Beth Mullins, told White Horse News, “We have been back up and running since 21st April. We have had new and returning members join us for sessions. Our team increased from three to five thanks to a grant from Wiltshire community foundation that allows us to have two paid staff. 

“We have just submitted a lottery grant application in hope we can secure staff funding for the next five years as they are a real benefit to the club and although we have two dedicated volunteers we have struggled to get volunteers for a long term commitment.”

The club has also applied to Westbury Area Board for a grant to help with running costs. Beth said, “Our young leader programme has been placed on hold due to Covid19 as Youth Action Wiltshire, who we work with to deliver the programme, hasn’t been able to restart the course yet. We are hopeful this will be back up and running later in the year and we can develop some of our members to become young leaders within the club. 

“We have confirmed that Barnardos will be coming in during sessions for six weeks to deliver their decider skills course to help young people with mental health issues – this will run from 9th June.

“We have started the mosaic project. We are looking for young people aged 11 to 19 or up to 25 with learning disabilities to design a emblem for the club. The most popular one will become the club’s emblem and will be transferred and made into a mosaic which will be displayed inside Westbury community project from where we run. 

“We are also working with the community project and our members will create a mosaic of the project’s logo that will also be displayed. We are looking for anyone who has old tiles that they would like to donate that we can use for this project to contact us via Facebook or email westburyyouthclub@gmail.com or alternatively they can be dropped off to us during a session every Wednesday durning term time, 6pm to 7:30pm at Westbury community project, Eden Vale Road. 

“If any local businesses or companies would like to sponsor the project we would be very greatful and we can be contacted on the above details. 

“We are open to new and existing members. We are fully Covid compliant – members and staff unless exempt have to wear face masks which are provided, temperatures are checked on arrival, hand sanitiser is provided, all surfaces are cleaned before and after the session and we work within the government guidelines of bubbles of 15 members.”

Entrance is £1 and sessions include pool, basketball, swing ball, a chillout area and arts and crafts activities.