Teenagers' club initiative is taking off

Teenagers in who claimed that there was nothing for them to do in their village have taken matters into their own hands – by setting up a new youth club.

A group of sixth form students from Haybridge High School, Hagley, near Stourbridge, came forward to ask council and police representatives if they could set up a group for 13 to 17-year-olds. The plans appeared to have stalled because Worcestershire County Council could not find a qualified youth worker who was needed to serve as group leader.

But after pressure from Hagley Parish Council chairman Steve Colella, the YMCA has now come forward to say it could provide a leader to help set up the group.

Youngsters raised concerns there was nothing for young people to do in Hagley at a police Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting earlier this year.

The students secured support and funding from the parish council but the plan looked to have fallen down because a trained and qualified person was needed to lead the initiative.

Now that has been sorted out, further meetings to plan the next stages of setting up the group are set to take place this month.

Councillor Colella said: "It is a fantastic idea and one that was particularly inspiring because it came from the students themselves.

"It was welcomed as a priority initiative by all parties involved in the meeting including police and parish, district and county councillors.

"I am now very happy and have been reassured there is a very real solution to the problem.

"These students are a credit to Haybridge, their parents and Hagley."

If the group gets off the ground it is expected to be based at the community centre in the village on Wednesday nights.