St Nicks Youth Centre to reopen Friday 13 Feb

Focus Team members celebrate the good news

Some great news about St Nicks Youth Centre - thanks to a lot of work by members of the Focus Team and Yate Town Council, the Youth Centre will reopen on Friday 13 February. They've raised the funds, found a leader and recruited the staff.

The session will run from 7 pm to 9 pm, for ages 11 to 18, entry 50 pence.

And there will be free pizza at the opening night!

You can take part in lots of activities - football, cooking, arts and crafts - or just chill with your mates.

For any further information please contact Cath Challinor on 07909 744853.

FREE basketball sessions to start at Abbotswood next Wednesday

Are you aged 14+ and want to play basketball?

Then join these sessions on Wednesdays at St Nics Youth Centre (Abbotswood) from 28 January

The sessions run from 6.30 to 7.30 pm - learn basketball skills and play friendly games.

The sessions are completely FREE so come along and join in!

For more information contact sport@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 865821

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.

Community planting at St Nicks - can you help?

St Nicholas Family Centre at Abbotswood is creating a new outdoor area for all the groups that use the centre.

They are aiming to have a "grand community planting" on Saturday 26 September, from 9.30am to 12.30 pm.

Please put this date in your diary, and come along and help.