A YOUTH centre in Melksham opened its doors this week for the first time in just over a year after being closed down due to council budget cuts.

The Canberra Youth Centre, Spa Road, celebrated its official opening on Tuesday, 14 months after it was closed down when Wiltshire Council withdrew its funding.

The charity Young Melksham took over the running and after moving it to the Adventure Centre it is now back in its original home.

Jon Hubbard, 45, chairman of Young Melksham said: “It went fantastically. Around 30 kids turned up which was beyond our dreams. We had a few mums and dads come down as well which we did not expect.

“We can make a difference. It gives the kids their own space. It is an area where they feel safe and confident.

“It is a fantastic facility and the whole team of people working down there are great, professionals.”

The club will run on Tuesdays between 6.30 to 9pm but after the new year an extra Thursday session will be added and another club in Bower Hill in the Pavilion will be opened, on Wednesdays 6.30-9pm.

An after school’s club from 3 to 6 pm is also planned, which will initially only be once or twice a week but aims to run from Monday to Friday after Christmas.

Mr Hubbard added: “The move was made possible as Wiltshire Council agreed to lease Canberra Hall to young Melksham for two years.

“The rent is £500 a year but there are a lot of other costs, we have to pay everything. It will cost us £8,000 a year to run the building.

“We are going to be doing a bit of fundraising, but we basically have funds to run it for two years.

“We have a range of organised and disorganised activities. The building is split into five zones, there is the activity zone, talk zone for counselling, kitchen zone, technology zone and the chill-out zone.

“The club is for all kids in the Melksham area. We take any child at secondary school but usually they are between 11-15 and are generally split fifty-fifty between boys than girls.

“We hope to be able to get a mini bus to provide free transport for those living in the more faraway places.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to drive the mini bus or act as chaperones for the children.

To get in touch with Young Melksham email admin@youngmelksham.org.uk or call on 01225 667327.