'Bude's Haven', a new health centre at Budehaven School, received a boost last week as local MP Dan Rogerson and Bude campaigner Nathan Bale met with the students leading the charity-funded project.

They agreed to press the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust to give full support to the centre when it opens later this year.

The 'integrated health centre' should offer access to everything from counselling and sexual health education to physiotherapy, all on the school's premises. Students Jonny Stephens, Simon Sparrow (East Cornwall's Deputy Member of the Youth Parliament), Will Mieville-Hawkins and Abi Hockin have been involved in drawing up the plans since the project started but they now need Government support to make the centre a success.

Similar schemes are in operation in New Zealand and Budehaven is one of three Cornish schools running a pilot in the UK. Dan Rogerson has spoken up for more accessible healthcare in rural areas and says the scheme is 'commonsense in action'.

Commenting, Dan Rogerson said: "This new health centre is an excellent idea and the four students I met today have put a lot of thought and time into getting the project off the ground.

"The Duchy Health Charity has given hundreds of thousands of pounds to build the centre, and the students have raised tens of thousands themselves to furnish it. Now the Government and the local PCT must ensure this scheme is a success.

"The NHS is so often out of reach of rural communities, it makes sense to bring its services to where young people are anyway — their schools — using professionals who are on site, and whom students trust.

"Along with the students we met today, I am convinced that this is the right way forward for the wellbeing of young people at secondary age.

"If the PCT gets this right Bude's Haven can be a model for the whole country."

Bude campaigner Nathan Bale added: "This is just the sort of facility I want for our community, and I'm delighted that it's making such good progress.

"What's even better is that this project isn't just being handed down but has involved the school's students at every stage. When the centre opens, counselling services will be particularly useful to support students through any difficulties at home, the stress of exams and the trials of making friends and forming relationships. School life is not the easy life, and this centre will be a big boost to get local students through it."