Village youth centre's future in balance

A ground-breaking youth centre in desperate need of extra cash could have its fate decided tonight.

A special meeting has been called of Norton Canes parish councillors to decide whether the council can continue financially supporting the village's Unit 13 centre.

The project, which is run by volunteers, was created after the parish council agreed to pay £25,000 towards the £30,000 lease. The remaining £5,000 came from Councillor John Beddows who donated his councillor allowance to good causes.

The deal will finish in May next year but the centre has yet to become financially viable although it meets all of its other costs through the KONCAS, or Kids of Norton Canes Activity Scheme.

At tonight's meeting, which is open to the public, Councillor June Davies, who has been one of the project's leaders since it opened in November 2007, will ask the councillors to extend their financial support.

Unit 13 has won widespread praise for its work with young people, running regular youth club nights at the former industrial unit which has computers, a kitchen area and even an indoor football area.

It has attracted 5,000 young people and adults through its doors for a variety of events and regular activities both during the day and at night.

Councillor Davies said delays in signing the lease meant the unit had not been open long enough to be able to stand alone.

She said: "People in the village comment now that they don't see the young people on the streets and they don't see the vandalism or problems. The unit has worked and we have got kids as old as 15 coming to the unit which is great." She added: "We are working on funding all the time but it is very difficult.

"At the end of the day you can't charge young people the earth."

The meeting is in Norton Canes Community Centre at 7pm.