The group behind the new Sanctuary Point Youth Centre is sure the facility will make a huge difference to the community and help youths in the area.
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Sanctuary Point Community Pride pushed for the centre to be built with the idea of giving local youths a safe a friendly place to call their own.
Pride chairperson Allen Kruse has high hopes for the facility.
“If this achieves what we hope it achieves then this will be our major project so far,” he said.
“It is part of our mission statement to support youth in the area. We recognised the need for it and the recognition of this need was supported by the community.”
Mr Kruse said the community wanted the centre and added the main comment the got was ‘it’s about time’.
The centre is in the St Georges Basin Country Club’s now disused squash courts and will open on Monday February 29.
Mr Kruse said the negative feedback had been minimal and related to the centre being so close to the club.
“People feel because the centre is in club that we are going to teach young people how to drink and gamble,” he said
“However the centre it’s total separate to the club - it just so happens to be in the same building.”
The group is planning a walk through with students from the primary schools and the high school this month with their principals.
The walk through will allow principals to feel comfortable about promoting the youth club to parents, carers and P&C associations.
The centre is going to be known as a chill out and drop in spot for youths to use.
They will be able to access computers to do their homework, catch up with friends and enjoy being in a safe environment.
Youth worker Mark Webster can't want until the centre opens.
“I have had the face time with the kids in the area and so I have been able to talk to them about what they need,” he said.
He has been going to events, like the recent SES open day, meeting people and spreading the word about the youth centre
“We will be flexible and be able to adapt to want the youth want and not come in with a set program for them,” he said
He said kids could just drop in and sit around on one of the lounge chairs if the want.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to help local youths and centre is going to give them a safe place to be,” he said.
Seasoned community volunteer Veronica Husted said the St Georges Basin Country Club’s management must be thanked.
“The level of support we have had from Peter Thorncroft and the club has been phenomenal. It would not have happened without Peter’s support,” she said.
Mrs Husted said the Sanctuary Point Community Bank supported the project with a $20 000 donation.
