Bridport Youth & Community Centre facing closure

They help isolated people in the area

Author: Lauren WattPublished 26th Apr 2024

The youth and community centre in Bridport which helps isolated people is facing closure by the end of the year.

It comes following a rise in costs and a lack of funding.

The centre is now hoping that crowdfunding for £20,000 will allow them to keep the doors open and continue to provide their valuable service in the community.

Bridport Youth and Community Centre Trust took over the youth centre from Dorset County Council in 2016.

The centre is the home to many youth and community groups, offering activities to promote community inclusion and reduce social isolation, particularly for those under 21 and over 55.

If the centre closes a number of activities will be lost including junior and senior youth clubs, parent & toddler groups, men's wellness groups and Age UK sessions.

Margie Barbour, lead fundraiser for the centre said:

"Certainly in Bridport their has been issues about young people and anti-social behaviour and our youth leaders go out and meet young people gathering to offer them the opportunity to come back to the youth centre for some sitting around and talking and very often they have shared with some of the professional youth leader the reasons for them being out on the street."

The Crowdfunding total is nearly at £1500 but with a £20,000 target more help is needed. You can find out more and donate here.

Margie added:

"One thing we will do with some of the funds we are raising is we need to have a place that young people can disclose to our youth leaders any issues at home that need to be shared and create a space that young people can be taken for one to ones and be supported. "

More including what's on at the youth centre, venue hire and information on how you can volunteer can be found on the Bridport Youth & Community Centre website.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.