We, the undersigned, write in support of The Lighthouse Youth Club, 5 Barrack Road, Christchurch. Given that the Lighthouse has been served its eviction notice, we request that a suitable and affordable venue, within the confines of Christchurch Town Centre, is identified by B.C.P. Council to re-locate the town-centre youth and community project.
The Lighthouse is a youth club, community project, and activity centre which has provided development and support to the young people in Christchurch Town Centre for the last 35 years, as well as a safe and nurturing environment available to young people outside of school times. The youth club also offers a range of services available to young people, from sexual health advice, educational help, and employability guidance, delivered by fully trained youth workers.
It is widely regarded that youth clubs also function in a preventative capacity. By offering a venue and a range of activities, youth clubs can help to reduce the amount of anti-social disturbances that may be caused by bored young people. Therefore, a town centre youth club benefits not only the young people themselves, but also the town centre community as a whole.
We believe that recent funding cuts, and the loss of a property for the youth club, will have a serious impact on the young people of Christchurch. Many young people have relied on this youth project for a range of opportunities: educationally, developmentally, and interpersonally.
The Lighthouse has been a valuable and significant space within Christchurch. As well as functioning in the traditional youth club format, in which a safe and secure space has been offered to young members, a range of programmes have also been facilitated by our funded-through-donation youth workers. The youth club also houses a music project and recording studio which has been instrumental in the formation of many of the member’s musical talents and successes.
Lighthouse alumni include musicians who have: been part of a band signed to a major international record label, appeared on national television to millions of viewers, played venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, played gigs as far afield as Mexico, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Latvia, Lichtenstein, and the Channel Islands, and many more. The youth club is also involved in a number of local events and festivals which allow opportunities for the young people to perform, manage, and assist in the delivery of community-focused events.
Members have also gone on to teach in a professional and educational capacity, often quoting their volunteer work at the youth centre as a decisive factor in their career paths.
Simply put, we, the undersigned, feel that the loss of The Lighthouse Youth club will have serious ramifications to the development and safety of young people within the town centre and urge that a suitable venue may be made available.
Updates
May 12, 2019
Reaching five hundred signatures marks a significant moment for the future of our youth club. It is heartening to see such a strong collective acknowledgment of the value this space provides to the young people of Christchurch.
Reached 500 supporters
May 10, 2019
May 3, 2019
One hundred people have now added their names to the call for a new home for The Lighthouse. Seeing this response confirms that our community truly values the guidance and stability this space provides to local youth.
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2019
190 Comments
Good Luck with this, I worked for several years as. Youth Worker across Christchurch/Bournemouth then as. Drug/Alcohol worker for Young people, and know that Young People need centres to use and ownership something they know is a safe enjoyable environment.
Please keep the lighthouse open there is not much for the kids in Christchurch as it is, my son visits here at least twice a wk and without it him and his mates would be walking the streets. Please lets keep something in xch for the teenagers
The Lighthouse provided me with a safe haven to practice my music with my peers. I believe it is the last place in christchurch to accommodate young people, often vulnerable. It’s disgusting that we should be made the fight for something we should be so proud of.
I spent my teenage years at the lighthouse playing music and learning about music production from Russ. Now I am at university studying music. Without this valuable service to the community I would not be doing what I am today.
As a senior member and volunteer, I have seen first hand the impact that The Lighthouse Youth Club has had on the young people of Christchurch. I implore B.C.P. council to find a suitable venue for us to relocate to, and help save our youth project!
So important to provide accessible info in a place young people recognise
We desperately need services for our young children and adults for meeting places and to explore music and interact with each other
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We, the undersigned, write in support of The Lighthouse Youth Club, 5 Barrack Road, Christchurch. Given that the Lighthouse has been served its eviction notice, we request that a suitable and affordable venue, within the confines of Christchurch Town Centre, is identified by B.C.P. Council to re-locate the town-centre youth and community project.
The Lighthouse is a youth club, community project, and activity centre which has provided development and support to the young people in Christchurch Town Centre for the last 35 years, as well as a safe and nurturing environment available to young people outside of school times. The youth club also offers a range of services available to young people, from sexual health advice, educational help, and employability guidance, delivered by fully trained youth workers.
It is widely regarded that youth clubs also function in a preventative capacity. By offering a venue and a range of activities, youth clubs can help to reduce the amount of anti-social disturbances that may be caused by bored young people. Therefore, a town centre youth club benefits not only the young people themselves, but also the town centre community as a whole.
We believe that recent funding cuts, and the loss of a property for the youth club, will have a serious impact on the young people of Christchurch. Many young people have relied on this youth project for a range of opportunities: educationally, developmentally, and interpersonally.
The Lighthouse has been a valuable and significant space within Christchurch. As well as functioning in the traditional youth club format, in which a safe and secure space has been offered to young members, a range of programmes have also been facilitated by our funded-through-donation youth workers. The youth club also houses a music project and recording studio which has been instrumental in the formation of many of the member’s musical talents and successes.
Lighthouse alumni include musicians who have: been part of a band signed to a major international record label, appeared on national television to millions of viewers, played venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, played gigs as far afield as Mexico, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Latvia, Lichtenstein, and the Channel Islands, and many more. The youth club is also involved in a number of local events and festivals which allow opportunities for the young people to perform, manage, and assist in the delivery of community-focused events.
Members have also gone on to teach in a professional and educational capacity, often quoting their volunteer work at the youth centre as a decisive factor in their career paths.
Simply put, we, the undersigned, feel that the loss of The Lighthouse Youth club will have serious ramifications to the development and safety of young people within the town centre and urge that a suitable venue may be made available.
Updates
May 12, 2019
Reaching five hundred signatures marks a significant moment for the future of our youth club. It is heartening to see such a strong collective acknowledgment of the value this space provides to the young people of Christchurch.
Reached 500 supporters
May 10, 2019
May 3, 2019
One hundred people have now added their names to the call for a new home for The Lighthouse. Seeing this response confirms that our community truly values the guidance and stability this space provides to local youth.
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2019
190 Comments
The Lighthouse is a local institution run by dedicated staff and is an essential resource for young people in our town. My 3 sons have all benefitted and have made lifelong friends. Closing this fabulous facility would be a grave mistake
Good Luck with this, I worked for several years as. Youth Worker across Christchurch/Bournemouth then as. Drug/Alcohol worker for Young people, and know that Young People need centres to use and ownership something they know is a safe enjoyable environment.
Please keep the lighthouse open there is not much for the kids in Christchurch as it is, my son visits here at least twice a wk and without it him and his mates would be walking the streets. Please lets keep something in xch for the teenagers
The Lighthouse provided me with a safe haven to practice my music with my peers. I believe it is the last place in christchurch to accommodate young people, often vulnerable. It’s disgusting that we should be made the fight for something we should be so proud of.
I spent my teenage years at the lighthouse playing music and learning about music production from Russ. Now I am at university studying music. Without this valuable service to the community I would not be doing what I am today.
As a senior member and volunteer, I have seen first hand the impact that The Lighthouse Youth Club has had on the young people of Christchurch. I implore B.C.P. council to find a suitable venue for us to relocate to, and help save our youth project!
So important to provide accessible info in a place young people recognise
We desperately need services for our young children and adults for meeting places and to explore music and interact with each other
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The Lighthouse is a local institution run by dedicated staff and is an essential resource for young people in our town. My 3 sons have all benefitted and have made lifelong friends. Closing this fabulous facility would be a grave mistake