Young people living in Peasedown St John now have the chance to get involved in even more community activities thanks to the launch of a new local charity.
The SJ’s Trust, which is made up of representatives from across the community and the village churches, has been set up to compliment the youth work already taking place at Peasedown Youth & Children’s Centre.
With Bath and North East Somerset Council already providing Open Access youth work sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights at the centre, SJs will fund and run the Open Access sessions at Peasedown Methodist Church on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
SJs Chairman Matthew Street said: “People from across Peasedown St John have always believed that providing more activities for youngsters can only be a positive thing.
“We all greatly value the work that staff and volunteers carry out at Peasedown Youth & Children’s Centre, and now want to compliment this by continuing to fund the Tuesday night session at the Methodist Church and introduce a Thursday night session for teenagers too.”
The new SJs trust, which stands for ‘St John’, is made up of representatives from St John’s Church, Peasedown Methodist Church, Peasedown St John Parish Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, and a young person’s representative – community activist Carenza Clifford.
It’s funded completly by donations and charitable giving.
Carenza said: “Quite often teenagers want something to do on different nights throughout the week.
“Thursday nights in particular are towards the end of the school week and people my age just want to hang out with their friends.
“This new Peasedown charity is great – it means we now have even more opportunities to go out.”
The Tuesday and Thursday night youth work sessions will be run by Community Outreach worker Andy Stockinger, who added: “The young people living in Peasedown St John have so much to contribute, and now with four evenings a week of youth work being provided, they are spoilt for choice when it comes to activities to get involved in.
“These evenings are very much for all teenagers where all are welcome in an inclusive, supportive atmosphere.”
The new Thursday night session at Peasedown Methodist Church will start at 6.30pm on Thursday 14th January.
