St Nick's Youth Centre closing, but rescue may be possible

The charitable trust that runs St Nicholas Youth Centre at Abbotswood has suddenly announced that they are to stop operating from the end of December. This means that this month's youth club meetings will be the last, apart from one farewell evening in January.

South Gloucestershire Youth Initiative was founded in 2012 after the core youth club funding from South Gloucestershire Council ceased. In 2013 they managed to attract enough funding and grants to keep the club open. However this year they found it increasingly difficult to balance the books and they felt they had no option but to close.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Your local Focus councillors believe that local youth work is essential, and they are working hard trying to put a rescue package together. Yate Town Council is taking the lead role. This has been complicated by the very short notice given, and the fact that it's happening in the run-up to Christmas when key people are less likely to be available.

We'll update you here when we know for certain what is happening.