The future of Marlborough’s youth centre building in St Margaret’s Mead remains a mystery. And this uncertainty is hampering the work of a voluntary group led by Lisa Farrell to set up a new group for Marlborough’s young people.
The building was closed in August when Wiltshire Council cut the money and support for the county’s youth services. The Council’s ‘new model’ for youth services relies on volunteers with a small pot of money channelled through the Area Boards and the support of a Community Youth Officer (whose salary is paid by Wiltshire Council.)
The Marlborough Area Board has £14,208 to spend on youth services and activities in the rest of the current financial year and £24,465 to spend during 2015-2016. The money has to be applied for in the same way that all Area Board grants are made.
At the meeting of the Area Board on Tuesday (November 25) the first grant was made to Lisa Farrell’s group. But only after a confused argument during which the chair wanted to subtract the sum of money described in the application as ‘£600 for stock’.
After an intervention by unitary councillor Nick Fogg, the full amount of the request was agreed: £1,762:50.
As Jan Bowra, the Youth Community Officer, put it: “This is a very, very new model – it’s not been tried before and we’re not going to get it right overnight.”
The money the Area Board can allocate has to cover youth provision not just for Marlborough but for the surrounding villages as well. Ramsbury, Broad Hinton and Aldbourne have thriving and well supported youth centres.
Lisa Farrell, who is acting as a resident rather than a town councillor and is supported by other town councillors including Justin Cook, Mervyn Hall and Marian Hannaford-Dobson, was praised during the meeting for her work. The chairman, unitary councillor Jemima Milton said: “I think it is fabulous that someone’s taken the bull by the horns to begin the new youth service.”
But there was incredulity, frustration and some anger when it was revealed that part of the £1,762 grant would be going straight back to Wiltshire Council as rent for the use of the closed youth centre building.
It is understood that while closed to any youth activity, the building is still being used by a third sector provider for young people with learning difficulties. But this too will have to finish at the end of March.
No one at the meeting knew what Wiltshire Council intend to do with the building after March.
The Town Council have passed a resolution in support of Lisa Farrell’s initiative. But there has yet been no move by the Council to take the building over under the ‘community asset transfer’ scheme. One irony of the situation is that the centre was built on land owned by the Town Council.
The main advantage of the building is that it is right beside the skate board park, play area and recreation ground. One possible disadvantage is that it is not very close to the centre of town.
At the Area Board meeting a passing reference was made to suggestions that the Town Hall’s basement should be turned into a youth café or club. A safe place at the heart of the town.
Lisa Farrell was indignant that she would not be able to promise young people an on-going and sustainable service if the youth club building (known officially as the Marlborough Development Centre) will not be available after March: “How the hell can I tell these children who feel so let down by this town, this may only last three months?”
One of the key parts of Wiltshire Council’s ‘new model’ is the formation of a Local Youth Network with a Management Group. Jan Bowra, the Marlborough area Community Youth Officer, is holding a meeting about this Group on Thursday, December 4 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Marlborough Development Centre in St Margaret’s Mead. For more details contact janette.bowra@wiltshire.gov.uk or andrew.jack@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01225 713109.
Family pays tribute to Max – a rugby player and music fan with a large circle of friends
