Wells City Council has thrown a lifeline to a local charity that helps troubled young people, after County Council cuts left a funding shortfall.
Limitless Wells, part of Elim Connect Centre, runs a Friday night youth club for up to 40 young people. But cuts to Somerset County Council youth services left it facing a £3,500 funding gap.
The city council has now stepped in with an interim grant of £1,500 and a promise to look at ongoing funding in September.
Jim Wilkinson, associate pastor at Elim, said: “We want to say a big thank you for their support in enabling us to keep going. They were very receptive and positive about the work we do.”
The centre provides a place for youngsters who might otherwise be involved in anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking or drugs. Others face extreme social isolation.
Last year, 143 young people used the centre in Portway. Many go on to become volunteers themselves.
Amber Vango, 18, first came to the centre when she was ten. She now helps run the club, serving refreshments.
“I have actually been attending the youth club longer than any of the staff,” she said.
She battled with undiagnosed Asperger’s syndrome for years which manifested itself in severe behavioural difficulties.
At one point she spent an entire school year in isolation because going into a classroom would induce a panic attack.
But thanks to youth workers Judy Illingworth and Zehavit Huddy fighting her corner, Amber finally got diagnosed at 15, shortly before her GCSEs.
“The club played a crucial role in my life. The people here have been the most supportive I could ever have asked for,” Amber said.
Now attending Bridgwater College, she has a place to study horticulture and is able to give something back at the club.
“Recently, one of the kids who is quite stand-offish came to me with a problem and I was able to help and I felt like I had genuinely made a difference,” she said.
Judy Illingworth said losing the county youth service was ‘super sad’. “It meant that this youth club could potentially be in jeopardy. It was a big blow, not only financially but in practice too,” she said.
“The youth work sector has been under fire for quite some time and people are struggling to see why we are seeing all these problems in society.
“It’s absolutely vital that young people have somewhere they can learn and grow and build positive relationships. Without it they will gather outside and get themselves into lots of trouble.”
Tony Robbins, Wells Council chairman, said: “We were very keen to help.
“They do some great work and often people in Wells don’t realise what an important role they play.”
"The council has a limited budget for community grants so was not able to give the full £3,500 but a £1,500 stopgap with a promise to review funding in September.
“With a service like this it was a complete ‘no-brainer’. We have a moral duty to do what we can to help,” he said.
