A NEW Youth and Community Hub is being set up in Bromsgrove to provide a safe place for young people to socialise and learn new skills.
Operating out of the basement at Bromsgrove Baptist Church in New Road, which is currently in need of essential maintenance and refurbishment, the hub will be a multi-agency response to the needs of young people in the town.
It will offer opportunities for training to improve understanding in areas, including mental health, drug and alcohol use, sexual relationships, life skills and educational courses.
The YMCA is leading the project which is aimed at reducing the number of young people who find themselves referred as being at risk of anti-social behaviour or offending.
It will also increase the number of young people engaged in positive activities and provide crime prevention sessions or activities.
Some initial support for the project has already been given through grant funding from various organisations including Bromsgrove District Council, the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership (Safer Bromsgrove), and 57 Monkeys night club on Worcester Road.
Several other agencies and organisations, including West Mercia Police and Churches Together in Bromsgrove, have also expressed their support for the project.
Rev Paul Lewis, minister of Bromsgrove Baptist Church, said: “The hub will seek to address the needs of young people in the town by redirecting them away from crime, anti-social behaviour and social isolation.
“Young people can get into crime because they lack emotional stability or have unfulfilled educational needs.
“The hub will provide much needed opportunities through which current and future generations will be proud of their community and want to live and work in Bromsgrove.
“It will aim to transform lives and give young people hope for a better future.”
The church is asking residents to get involved by helping the project win an Aviva Community Fund grant of up to £25,000 which will secure the scheme’s future for the first three years.
To do that, residents need to visit www.community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-349 and, after registering, place their votes before November 21.
Further funding and support will be needed for the Hub, so any people, businesses or organisations which could help should contactl Rev Paul Lewis by email at [email protected] or by calling him on 01527 877190.
