'Heart-wrenching' if 70-year-old youth club shuts

The final sessions are expected to take place at the centre in July

A Somerset youth centre which has been welcoming young people for more than 70 years could have to close.

The charity which runs Chard Youth Centre, said it was no longer financially sustainable.

The trustees of Chard Area Youth Committee said it was a "heart-wrenching" decision to potentially close the centre which started operating for local young people in 1949.

The centre will currently hold its final youth sessions in July.

The building started being used as a youth centre in 1949.

The charity which is made up of seven trustees, was set up in 2019 to run the centre when Somerset County Council ended funding youth services in Chard.

Tricia O'Brien, chair of the Chard Area Youth Committee, said it was a "very sad meeting" when the decision was taken to close the charity.

She said it had relied on other groups hiring the building to help cover the costs - but after the Covid-19 pandemic they didn't have enough private hire bookings to help pay for the building, a situation not helped by rising utility bills.

"It's a beautiful old building and it's just ideal for young people, but its an issue of sustainability," Ms O'Brien said.

"We have tried everything in our power to avoid closing it," she said - adding the response from the community since announcing the charity's closure had been "wonderful."

"They're all very sad that it's happened but very understanding because it's a sign of the times," said Ms O'Brien.

Pete May from Active Learning and Skills runs youth sessions at the centre

Active Learning Skills runs sessions at the centre, commissioned by Chard Area Youth Committee.

Pete May, director, Active Learning and Skills said he was "hugely saddened" by the news the centre would be closing.

"We would like to thank the committee most sincerely for their incredibly hard work in challenging times over the years, and for their partnership in enabling our services to be used by between 300-500 young people and children per year, in recent years," said Mr May.

Possible new support

He described the club as a "super venue" with good facilities where young people could make new friends.

"Importantly though, what is also provided is more than just a space to have fun and a good social time, but also support in dealing with problems and crisis.

"{it offered] Chances to try new things, learning and help on issues affecting them, developing life skills and understanding of the world around them, plus opportunities to get involved in their community," Mr May added.

As things stand, the final session for young people will be on 18 July.

At a meeting on Monday night, Chard Town Council agreed to set up a steering group to try and support future youth services across the town.

The discussion was held in a confidential part of the meeting, but councillors agreed in principle that it needs to have an input in youth services for Chard.