Residents with spare time on their hands have been asked to help open new doors for disabled young people in Brighouse.
Volunteers will make a real difference to the lives of dozens of children from the area if they apply to give a couple hours of a week to Gateway Youth Club, which meets at the youth centre in Aire Street.
Run by the Calderdale Council, the club is dependent on the selfless work by its helpers who put on activities to help young people socialise, learn and develop new skills.
Volunteers who are “lively and fun-loving” have been asked to get in touch and get stuck in on Thursdays from 5.30pm to 10pm, where they will lead sports, games, help in the tuck shop or even transport young people to and from the site.
One volunteer, Paul, has supported the youth club for the last three years.
He said: “My son attends Gateway every week and I wanted to do something to help him, so I volunteered as a minibus driver. It always makes me smile. The sense of achievement is enormous.”
Volunteers do not have to volunteer each week but should be prepared to help the club every month.
Gateway youth club member, Courtney, said: “It helps young people with disabilities to make friends and have fun. It has given me so much confidence.”
Former Cabinet member for children and young people’s services at Calderdale Council, Clr Megan Swift, urged volunteers to get involved.
She said: “The club is so important for young people with disabilities in Calderdale.
“Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide this fantastic resource for young people. The youth club is really well attended but for this to continue, we need more people to come forward.”
Full training will be provided and costs will be covered for the mandatory DBS background check.
For more information visit the Gateway web page at www.calderdale.gov.uk/community/voluntarywork/youth-club/index.html , email cjgce@live.co.uk or call Sam Roe on 07872 100547.
