PRINCETOWN Pavilion Youth Club recently celebrated good news that it was to receive six months of project funding from the People's Health Trust — Active Communities' Fund.

The communities' fund of £24,999 for the 'Princetown Moor Active' project was awarded to enable young people to develop and learn new skills for life, help them feel less rurally isolated and be more confident about being active in their community.

The money will help cover some of the staff and project costs until September 2016.

The funding has also allowed the club, based at the Youth Centre in Barrack Road, Princetown, to expand its opening times, providing three evening sessions per week as well as regular weekend activity days for the young people of Princetown and the surrounding villages.

The club has a range of activities, including music workshops, creative craft sessions, practical cooking sessions and menu planning, skills for life training, community gardening skills, indoor and outdoor sports and games.

The centre also provides a computer suite with internet access and a place for young people to 'chill out'. In addition to these activities, the staff team provide advice, information and support on a range of issues, including social skills, drug and alcohol advice, sexual health, independent living and budgeting, education and training options.

Paul Dobbie, senior youth worker at the centre, said: 'School holiday programmes will focus on both centre-based and off-site activities, with a community garden forming a major feature of our site.

'Also, with so many creative young people in the village, our music studio is always in demand and we are keen to expand this area of our programme as soon as possible.

'The location, in the centre of the moors, lends itself to developing a range of outdoor adventurous activities, with sailing, climbing, canoeing, fishing, surfing and camping already identified by the young people.'

Wendy Stones, chair of the management committee, added that it was great to see the youth club developing once again and helping to prepare young people for the future.

'The specific training and accreditation opportunities being developed will provide transferable skills to enable young people to become more confident and develop employment skills.

'It was pleasing to see a group of young people representing the club at the Remembrance Day wreath laying service in November. The youth club is now becoming a real hub for village activities.'

A number of teenagers have volunteered their time to help with running the junior club on a Tuesday, using their artistic, musical and sporting skills to help staff provide a broader programme for the younger ones.

A group of budding chefs also produced a Christmas dinner for members and staff at the last session before Christmas, serving almost 50 people in two sittings.

The club is currently open on Tuesday afternoons between 4.30pm and 6.30pm for young people between the ages of 8 and 11 years; Tuesday evenings between 7pm and 9pm for young people aged 11 and over; Thursday evenings between 6pm and 8pm for young people aged 11 and over. Weekend activities generally take place on a Sunday, between 1pm and 5pm.