Syston Youth Project Re-opens

Syston Youth Project has been in its present building since 1997 when the old building was replaced, providing a facility for young people from the age of 11 to come and meet friends and use the facilities i.e. table tennis, pool etc. Picture right shows, Andie Hastie receiving the cheque from Sue Smith, SADCOTE Chair, along with Claire Allsop and Naomi Carbelt.
SYP is open Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7.00pm to 9.00pm and young  people can drop in and out as they please, though they do have to sign in as a register of users is kept. No charge is made to use the facility though we do charge for tea and coffee and the much loved cheese toastie!
Run by a committee, there are two paid workers and two volunteer workers and a full range of help and advice is available to the young people, if we cannot help we will find someone who will.
SYP is affiliated to Young People First who support the project with training help and advice for the workers and is very grateful for all the support it receives from Syston Town Council, without their support the project would struggle to continue. We also receive support from various other bodies including Leicestershire county council and local businesses.
Last year we were given an opportunity to put a bid to the Leicestershire Youth Bank for money to refurbish the Youth Project. This bid however had to be put together by the young people and they had to decide what they wanted and how much it would cost. They had to complete the form and give reasons why it would benefit the group. The application was sent in and we were lucky enough to be successful and we received £7,600.
In mid July the project closed and the refurbishment started. This seemed to take forever and we did not reopen until mid November. In that time we had even more good news, The Syston District Chamber of Trade very kindly gave us a cheque for £250 and provided the workers with polo shirts and fleeces with our logo on, these were presented on our opening night. The money will go to help fund broadband connection for the group.
Since reopening we have had a steady stream of young people using the facility, on average we have 20 young people down each night and have had over 50 young people come down.
SYP is a much needed and well used facility, providing a safe environment for young people to meet and have fun and we are looking forward to this year when we hope to provide trips out to the Outdoor Pursuits Centre and to GOALS.
We are always pleased to see new faces at the project and are willing to take on board any suggestions from the young people as to what they would like us to do and anyone is welcome to come down and see what we do and have to offer.