A summer of fun for young people in Bridgnorth, thanks to Community Chest fund

News from our partners Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (STAR Housing)

Young people in Bridgnorth enjoyed a fun-filled summer thanks to a grant from Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing’s Community Chest fund.

The Bridge Youth Centre applied for the grant earlier this year to provide activities on the Crown Meadow on five Friday nights throughout the summer.

The youth centre was awarded £750 which it put towards the hiring of professional activities, providing food and offering a place for young people to go after the activity.

Bridge Youth Centre activities

John Prockter, The Bridge Youth Centre’s Manager, said:

“Last year we worked in the community on a project and found, through a series of research projects, that young people need access to activity in the summer evenings.

“Thanks to the grant we were able to feed and provide the many young people who attended with good quality activities – keeping them out of trouble.

“Our events ended up impacting 120 individual young people, the vast majority of which were new contacts from the park and skate park, and most of the young people came to more than one of the five evenings we put on.”

It’s not the first time that the youth centre has been awarded funding by STAR Housing.

John Prockter continued:-

“In 2016 we took to the streets of Bridgnorth to find out what young people wanted: again, this was made possible thanks to funding from STAR Housing.

“Their views differed from ours – we wanted to bring them indoors, but they said that they preferred to remain in their chosen outdoor places. This is why we made the decision to provide this year’s summer activities.

“They were a great success and we’ve had lots of positive feedback, not only from the young people who attended, but also from local residents.”

To find out more about the Community Chest fund or apply, please click here, call us on 01743 210206 or email involvement@starhousing.org.uk.