Trustees and helpers needed for teenage meeting place on Sidmouth’s Esplanade

TWO volunteers are needed to staff The Arches meeting place on Sidmouth Esplanade.

Extra trustees are also required to promote and fundraise for the centre.

Created for young people to meet and hold activities in June 2010 by Sidmouth Youth Trust, with support from Sidmouth Town Council, local businesses, Rotarians, Lions and volunteers, The Arches is primarily for 13 to 19-year-olds and has 100 members.

Originally staffed by part-time volunteers for two to three-hour sessions during school holidays and weekends, it provides a place for young people to meet friends, chill out, play music, cook and do activities.

From January 2011 Devon Youth Service was contracted by the Trust to run sessions on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons throughout the year, using two trained youth workers.

The Arches provides opportunities for teenagers to carry out environmental projects, gain work experience and organise activities.

School holidays are staffed by volunteers, and two are needed at The Arches for one two to three-hour session a day during school holidays.

Volunteers are trained and supported and ideally wouldn’t be required for more than two sessions a week.

Numbers attending sessions vary from 10-20. Members take charge of d�cor and use funds they have raised to buy extra resources.

Chris Rignall, deputy chairman of Sidmouth Youth Trust, said: “There is a young management group and members use The Arches Facebook page to recruit new members and promote activities that are taking place.”

With The Arches a key part of its activities, SYT has established links with Sidmouth College to support its alternative curriculum and work-related curriculum and links with other youth groups to encourage use of the Arches.

Chris said: “The Trust is very aware that a lot needs to be done to support local young people who are not in work or education and to support other youth initiatives and activities in the Sid Valley area.

“For Sidmouth Youth Trust to achieve its objectives for 2012, it needs extra trustees to help with communications and fund-raising.”

Those willing to become youth work volunteers or trustees should contact Di Fuller (01395) 576669 or email di_fuller@hotmail.com.

*More information about SYT can be found at www.sidmouthyouthtrust.com.