A PRIZED youth club has been saved thanks to a generous annual grant worth nearly £10,000 from a town council.

Barmouth Town Council has committed to spending £9,500 every year to restart a youth club in the town’s leisure centre.

The service, which restarted on Monday, will take place throughout the year on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7pm and 9pm.

Years 7, 8, and 9 can attend on Mondays, and Years 10 and 11 on Wednesdays.

It is hoped the renamed Youth Activity Club will provide an outlet for youngsters to enjoy their evenings and offer more healthy activities.

The cash injection will be paid annually by Barmouth Town Council with money raised from the local car park and from the council’s precept. Without the money, the youth service would have been lost to the town.

Gwynedd Council came under heavy fire earlier this year after announcing plans to shut all 39 youth clubs in a bid to save £270,000.

Despite a ‘bridging fund’ of £50,000 made available from Gwynedd Council, which Barmouth Town Council was not able to exploit, dozens of clubs and staff members will be lost unless local councils pick up the financial slack. Barmouth Town Council was pleased to be involved in the initiative.

“We are proud to be a critical part of the process of re-establishing a youth club in Barmouth by funding the scheme,” said Cllr Rob Triggs.

“We encourage all children in Years 7 to 11 to use the facility. The session plans we have been informed of seem to offer a great range of activities.”

David Holloway, deputy manager of Pavilion Leisure Centre, was thrilled to help improve the lives of the town’s younger residents.

“Thanks to the financial support of the town council, the support of the community and local police, and Gwynedd Council and its staff at the leisure centre, we have been able to get this off the ground,” he said.

“We’re also delighted that Rhona Lewis with her 24 years’ experience with youth clubs will be joining the team.

“Activities on offer will include badminton, football, table tennis, pool, quizzes, fitness sessions, cooking classes, and helping out with various community events.

“We will also be getting people in to run dance, make-up, music workshops etc, as often as we can.”