Youth centre hopes high

AFTER months of uncertainty about the future of Raymond Terrace’s only youth drop-in centre, things are starting to look up with Port Stephens Council and the Neighbourhood Centre starting negotiations for the service to move into a new site.
See your ad hereThe Youthie’s site on King Street in the old Masonic building was purchased by a private owner about seven months ago with plans to convert all of the building into a family home.

In a bid to save the essential community service, organisers started fund-raising and started a “Save The Youthie Campaign”.

The Neighbourhood Centre’s co-ordinator Colleen Whittle said The Youthie put in an expression of interest to the council for the old Raymond Terrace Guide Hall in Kangaroo Street and negotiations were continuing, with the council expected to finalise an agreement for use of the building soon.

“We are really excited,” Ms Whittle said of the news.

“But we have had to hold back our excitement a little bit because we still have a few weeks to go.”

Ms Whittle said thanks needed to go to councillor Geoff Dingle, who had helped find a new site for the centre since the announcement the old building had been purchased.

The Youthie’s services include counselling, support about homelessness, job seeking, education, mental health, sexual health and anything else youth-related. And Ms Whittle said pending additional grants she also hoped to see a half basketball court and other items at the new centre.