West Auckland youth club may close for good

A POPULAR village youth club could close for the final time despite the efforts of the community who have rallied together to try to save it.
West Auckland’s Millbank Youth Club’s funding crisis emerged after Durham County Council announced plans to cut youth provision across the county from April. The club will close on March 31 if alternative funding is not found.
A public meeting, attended by 34 people, was held on February 1 to help gather support. Generous sums of money have also been offered to help keep the club ticking over.
County councillors Rob Yorke and Christine Wilson have together committed £5,000 from their neighbourhood budgets. West Auckland Parish Council has also offered £5,000. However, the annual cost of running the club stands at about £30,000.
Treasurer of the committee Nadine Kipling said: “The issue is that the public meeting did not bring forward enough people that could continue with the fundraising for the long term. We are all very sad about the whole situation but we have got to be realistic.
“If the club closes we will lose a vital asset. We will not get it back. There is no doubt that it will have an impact on the youngsters using it.”
The club in Station Road hosts three sessions every week which have been attended by almost 200 young people during the past year.
The club’s management committee was set to meet as the Mercury went to press to make a decision on its future.
Ms Kipling said: “The fact of the matter is if we are not working all of the time looking for funders then, even with the two generous offers, we will be asking the same questions in six months’ time. For a small management committee it is a mammoth task. We are very grateful that those people thought about acknowledging our work and want to help.”