Neyland Youth Club in Charles Street closed its doors to members on Wednesday 11th March this year. The part time staff took from 16th March until it re-opened on 11th May to clear the old building, sort through approx 47 years of ‘stuff’ deciding what to keep and what to throw. When we moved down to the new base The Skills Centre, the main rooms had been painted but we had the task of rebuilding the kitchen we had brought down with us and adding our own personal touches. None of the carpets were great but the hall carpet was disgusting covered in oil and dirt, thanks to our then Mayor Cllr Simon Hancock a pot of money was found to recarpet the hallway.
The contrast between the old club and our new premises is outstanding. We have four rooms – Kitchen/cafe area, TV Room, Recreation Room and Beauty Room. All are warm and cosy, we have 3 music systems, 2 Large Televisions (one used with a PS3) and a fabulous Beauty Room complete with hairdressing chair fitted with a sink. The club has a lovely welcoming feel to it and numbers have risen from an average of 14 to around 35, proving how popular the move has been with members.
Our next task is to continue the transformation of the garden. Cllr Hancock rang to make sure we were pleased with the work that had been done in the centre -e.g. leaking roof, no light in the girls toilet etc. which he had chased up on our behalf we mention the outside area …….. we now have a play area covered with tarmac and edged with a sturdy wooden fence.
Our Youth Forum has successfully applied for funding from Neyland Town Council for picnic benches, and are waiting replies from Milford Haven Port Authority and Pembrokeshire Youth Bank for further funding bids. We are running a two day Garden Project on 10th and 11th August, Tesco have promised to help us with manpower and refreshments for the two days. Leanne our local PCSO who will be working on the project with us has written to Pembrokeshire County Council requesting paint and paintbrushes to cover the existing mural and display boards on the outside of the building. We are awaiting confirmation of this request but looking positive at the moment. The Youth Forum have also written to Neyland Town Council and Neyland Ladies Choir asking if anyone is able to give us a hand over those two days even if it is only for a few hours – we have two ton of top soil and bark to shift plus weeding, painting etc.
We close for this term on Wednesday 8th July but over the Summer have a 4 day camping trip to St Davids, 5 separate day trips to local attractions and the 2 day Garden project.