Madam,

Like many others in the Gwynedd area we are saddened to hear of the council’s decision to cut back on local youth work due to enforced spending restrictions.

At Tywyn Baptist Church, youth and children’s work has been a top priority for many years and, through the privilege of working alongside local young people, we have seen just what a difference a sense of belonging can make in their lives.

Where allocation of funds is concerned we feel that it is a wise investment in the future of the area to encourage rather than abolish youth clubs. Over time young people, growing up with that sense of community, then come to be future leaders of such groups and contributors to the area themselves.

A lack of such opportunities, we feel, leads to a disconnection with their town or village, and in time that can only be of detriment to the future of the area with fewer locals feeling the desire to contribute to the region in which they grew up.

We also feel that the positive impact of good role models, such as youth leaders, is a vital building block in the lives of many young people. So often we hear of how lives are changed by the influence of teachers and youth leaders as they help reinforce family values and standards, something we all have a responsibility for as we try to encourage and guide the next generation.

Yours etc,

Pete Cook, leader of youth and children’s work, Tywyn Baptist Church, High Street, Tywyn.

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