Colchester youth club could be launched in the Hythe

Up until 2015, Hythe Community Centre had hosted a youth club which catered for 55 children, but after the club disbanded eight years ago, there has been no provision for young people in the area, according to Lee Scordis, a councillor for Old Heath and the Hythe.

Now Mr Scordis and Fay Smalls are looking to bring the youth club back to life by working with Community Halls in Partnership and Essex Youth Services in the hope that youngsters can be brought through the front door of the community centre again.

Hythe Community Centre, in Ventura Drive, Colchester, has offered its premises for free so the youth club can restart.

Mr Scordis said the high number of starter homes and social housing meant community organisations like youth clubs need to be set up so children can be given activities to take part in.

He said: “The Hythe is an area that regularly gets forgotten about and is still finding its identity with further building taking place, but it is also an area with a high proportion of social housing and starter homes, which have a lot of children.

“St Stephens Church do a fantastic job of hosting a youth club in New Town but it is so popular that it is oversubscribed.  We want to get the wheels rolling on a youth club in the Hythe, which we hope will benefit children in the Hythe and parts of New Town.”

Mr Scordis added there is also a need for volunteers to get involved so the club can get up and running.

He added: “Essex Youth Services have told us that they will help with all the training and the initial set-up, as well as DBS checks for volunteers.”

Manager of the Hythe Community Centre, Debby Eley, said that she was keen for the facility to be a part of the project.

She said: “We are thrilled that there is a possibility of opening a youth club in the Hythe and New Town area of Colchester.

“It is a much-needed resource for the young people in this part of the city where they can build friendships and feel part of our community.”