Beverley Youth Club Confronts Another Winter Without Dedicated Space

A youth organization in Beverley, which has lacked a permanent venue since the Covid pandemic, has indicated that the town’s young residents are set to experience another winter without a designated meeting spot. The club relocated from the Cherry Tree Community Centre after its meeting room was converted into a food pantry, intended to assist local families facing financial difficulties. Planning permission was granted in October for the establishment of a small facility within a local park; however, £90,000 is required to transform shipping containers into a secure environment. Graham Stuart, the local Member of Parliament, was contacted by the youth club’s management and has scheduled a meeting with Policing Minister Diana Johnson to advocate for additional funding for the club’s prospective location. Currently, the club convenes outdoors in a local park, requiring young participants to endure cold weather conditions to engage in activities. Jo Ramsay, the youth club manager, stated: “It feels like we’re still at a standstill.” She added: “I contacted our MP to let him know we had 150 young people turn up on a Friday night and I’m concerned there could be a serious incident.” Ms. Ramsay also manages the Cherry Tree Community Centre, which established the youth club in 2016 for individuals aged nine to 18. The club currently interacts with approximately 90 young people weekly. While the youth club obtains some financial support from various sources, including the National Lottery, Ms. Ramsay indicated that “quite a lot more” is necessary for its continued operation. She questioned: “Is there going to be some money set aside for youths throughout the East Riding, not only in Beverley?” She further explained: “It’s not just a youth club where kids will come to play games and make things. It’s early intervention which is key to help mental health, help with debts if they get into debts. It’s preventative.” Mr. Stuart affirmed his intention to leverage his discussion with the policing minister to advocate for increased government funding aimed at enhancing opportunities for the region’s young population. He commented: “The work Jo and the team at Cherry Tree Centre do to support young people on Swinemoor is incredible, and it is only right that they have a permanent location to provide this from.” He continued: “That’s why I raised this vital issue in Parliament and am so pleased to have the opportunity to persuade the minister that the government should offer financial assistance to this amazing project.” He concluded: “I wish I could do more to help make this happen, but I hope this is another step in the right direction.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.