ROUTES, a young people’s drop-in centre on Frome’s Palmer Street, is celebrating after securing funding to keep the centre open for at least another three years.
A year ago, the future was looking very different for Routes, with a campaign launched to save the centre from closure. In response, tens of thousands of pounds were raised by the community, helping to fund the centre for another year.
Now, the centre is secure for the next three years. Drop-in centre team leader, Sue Crisfield said, “Thanks to the hard work of many colleagues and friends of Routes, the YMCA can confirm that it has secured main core-funding from the Big Lottery Youth Investment Fund for the next three years, as well as funding from other donors and charitable trusts.
“We are so happy and grateful that we have the Youth Investment Fund funding for three years. This means that we can now develop lots of new services for 11-25 year-olds in Frome. We want to try to meet young people’s needs and would like to encourage young people to let us know what they would like and ideas for how we could develop in the future.
“Routes is an open-access drop-in centre for 11-25 year-olds in Frome. It is a warm, welcoming and safe environment and the advice workers offer confidential advice, support and information on a wide range of issues such as housing and homelessness, money management, benefits, emotional health, relationships and employment, to name a few.
“There is free internet access, an X-box and young people are welcome to drop in and spend time with friends and use our ‘Improve with Food’ youth café which provides home-cooked nutritious and low-cost food and a take-away service for over 25s.”
A number of regular groups and drop-ins are available at the centre, including:
· Job Club every Monday and Thursday from 2pm-4.30pm for advice and help with Universal Credit work commitments, CV-writing, job hunting and applications, information about education and training courses and volunteering opportunities. There is a jobs board which is updated weekly with full and part-time jobs.
· Drop-in for Young Parents aged up to 23 on the first Wednesday of the month from 11am-12.30pm – this is a chance to meet with the young parents’ health visitor and get help with any concerns.
· Group for young people identifying as LGBTQ+ on the first Thursday of the month from 6pm-8pm.
· A new group for care leavers and ex-care leavers aged up to 25 starts on Tuesday 3rd April at 6pm-8pm, continuing on the first Tuesday of the month. For more information contact Lewis Diffey on 01749 822946.
· There are plans for a new group for young adult carers aged 18-25 who are caring for someone in their family due to long-term physical or mental illness, or substance misuse. Details about when this group will meet will be released in the near future.
“YMCA Mendip are co-ordinating a very exciting event on Friday 1st June from 1pm-4pm in Routes and in the churchyard of St John’s Church in Bath Street,” continued Sue. “A wide range of organisations who support young people will be attending, with information and activities around health – physical, mental and sexual health – nutrition, exercise and diet, things to do with their spare time and so on.
“At the moment over 15 organisations are attending, so young people are invited to come to St John’s and Routes and all 11-25 year-olds are welcome to attend. More information to follow!”
For more information please like and follow the YMCA Mendip Facebook page and the website www.mendipymca.org.uk or to speak to someone please ring Routes on 01749 679553 ext 2406.
Routes is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.
