Youth clubs in Cornwall struggling to stay afloat

Some youth centres in Cornwall say it is a "constant battle" to stay afloat financially, with one announcing it has had no choice but to close.

Hayle Youth Project (HYP) in Cornwall said it was closing it doors in July due to reaching a point where it was no longer financially viable to stay open.

While a youth centre in Penzance said it needed £120,000 to buy the Cornwall Council building it uses to continue its services.

Manager Bek Breslaw of PZN Youth, which has an annual £20,000 grant from Penzance Town Council, said: "We're constantly fighting the funding battle."

She said activities for 13 and 14 year olds during a busy sessions included slime making, cooking, gaming, ping pong.

Ms Breslaw said: ""We get some funding from the National Lottery, Children in Need and a number of other sources... every week we're thinking about where we apply next.

"We're putting out a plea now, if there's any philanthropists out there who might have £120,000 knocking around, we've got a chance to buy this building which is in a fantastic location."

Mayor Stephen Reynolds said: "There's lots of different organisations looking for funding but supporting our young people, giving them somewhere safe to go, to make a mess and make some noise.

"That is the kind of thing we want to support."

In April HYP said on social media: "It is with great sadness and deep regret that we must announce HYP has reached a point where it is no longer viable in the current economic climate."

It said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank the young people, funders and anyone who has supported HYP along the way."

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