Last-ditch appeal to save youth club
VOLUNTEERS are being urged to come forward to save Barming Youth Club, which has been run- ning for nine years. The club has been meeting reg-
ularly for two hours on Friday evenings in the parish playing field pavilion, off Church Lane. But it recently held its final meeting, due to a lack of helpers. It began in 2002 after an appeal
by the parish council, and has become viable through strong in- terest among 10-16 year-olds – around 60 youngsters attended weekly during the summer. Nigel Pyman and Vivienne Hyndman, who helped start the club, had continued in their roles even though their respec- tive children – Mercedes (21) and Megan (19) – are now too old to attend. “We have decided to hang up
our hats and hand over to some- one else,” Nigel said. “But we have sent out letters to local chil- dren to give to their parents and placed an advert in the parish magazine, but nobody wants to
was giving something back to the community. “I have always said that it is
Enthusiastic youngsters are hoping volunteers will step forward to help save Barming Youth Club
give up their time like I have for the past nine years. “The club is popular, there is
not a diminishing number of children and we have a strong following, but nobody wants to take it over.” The club costs each child £1 a
week and has been offering a range of sports including foot-
BARMING Parish Council is keen to upgrade the playing field and pavilion. The pavilion’s limited heating system means
it is almost unusable during the winter, and can only be accessed by foot through the play- ing field, which gets very muddy in wet weather. The council is attempting to raise funds to in- stall a new footpath and heating system, but
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ball, hockey, table tennis, and snooker, and rounders in the summer. Last year saw trips to Canterbury, Chessington and a themed graffiti day. Nigel, who runs Pyman’s garage in Headcorn, added: “I hope that someone will show a keen interest in the children’s welfare. I did it because I felt I
this is proving difficult. Barming borough and parish Cllr Fay Gooch
said: “If the project cost a million pounds, the chances are that we would get more funding. But this project is difficult to get money for be- cause it is not a large one. “We don’t want a really big building because
the access is not suitable and it would involve high maintenance costs.”
easy for people to point the fin- ger at children when they are misbehaving, but will they get off their backsides and do some- thing about it? I did.” Anybody interested in helping would need to be CRB checked, which can take around a week, and be prepared to get food and drinks from a cash and carry. This is sold to youngsters at a subsidised rate. “The bank accounts are all sorted,” continued Nigel. “Every- thing is up and running so it wouldn’t be difficult to take it over.” Borough and parish Cllr Fay Gooch said: “I put an advert on the noticeboard as well as an ar- ticle in Barming News, but peo- ple are too busy, perhaps with voluntary work already, or just aren’t interested. “You can pay £1,000 to get a trained worker, but then we would have to pay them, which is very difficult given that Maid- stone Council has greatly re- duced the funding to parish councils. “I am really, really sorry about
the youth club. We have done our best and I still hope some- body could see it in their heart to spare one evening a week. The demand is there, whichmakes it so frustrating.”
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