TRUSTEE for the Holsworthy Community Property Trust, John Allen, has made an appeal for volunteers to help run the Holsworthy Youth Centre, writes Christine Williams.

The centre was closed by Devon County Council in 2014 as a result of central government cuts, but thanks to the efforts of a committee led by Cllr Lyndon Piper and made up of members of the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative (MCTI), Holsworthy Community Property Trust, (HCPT) and Community Action Through Sport (CATS), it reopened on April 21, 2014.

Since then it has been run as a community project, relying on the support of volunteers and the youth of the town, providing a safe space for local young people to socialise, interact, engage with new activities and learn new skills on a weekly basis.

Unfortunately, the CATS charity has been unable to secure future funding to enable it to continue the work it has been doing with young people in both Cornwall and Devon.

This means that although the Youth Centre is not in danger of closing there is great need for volunteers who can spare some time to help continue on from the great work that has already been done by people from CATS.

The club meets on a Tuesday from 3.15pm to 5.15pm, for Years 6 to 9 and from 5.30pm to 8pm, for Years 10 and 11.

In its first year the club engaged with a total of 76 young people and provided volunteering opportunities for members of the local community ranging in age from 14 to 70 and above.

If anyone is willing to help out, they are welcome to pop into the club on a Tuesday.