Volunteers needed to deliver Lancing youth centre vision

LANCING-BASED charity Electric Storm Youth (ESY) is continuing with plans to build a multi-purpose youth and community centre in the heart of Lancing and is calling for volunteers to help out.

Local resident Marion Peskett launched ESY after being inspired to make a difference to her community at a Christian conference. It was led by a team from Legacy XS who had established a youth facility and skate park at Benfleet, Essex.

ESY was formed with a board of directors before East Worthing and Shoreham MP,Tim Loughton agreed to be the group’s Patron.

Now the group is calling for public support to create the youth and community centre on the site of the former Freshbrook School in the heart of Lancing.

Seven years on, representatives from ESY are regularly meeting with councillors and officers of the parish, district and county councils to advance the project following the granting of planning permission in August 2011.

Regular sessions with a growing group of young people continue at Lancing Youth Centre on the first Saturday of each month. These are great fun and include a mix of activities from sport, games, cooking and crafts. The next aim is to employ a youth worker to develop this work and other activities for young people in Lancing and Sompting. This will take place alongside a move to existing premises on the Freshbrook site in North Road, Lancing.

Fundraising continues with a mix of events taking place including silent auctions, garage sales, car boot sales and concerts featuring a range of local musicians and music groups. ESY has also been successful in receiving grants from organisations including Adur District Council, West Sussex County Local Committee for Adur and Sussex Community Foundation.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the project, or offer their support can contact Marion Peskett by calling 01903 752842 / 07964 914613 or sending an email to electricstormyouth@gmail.com

If you can’t get involved with any of the above but still want to help you can volunteer to help at a fundraising event or make a cash donation to ESY. You can donate online at www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/electricstormyouth using your credit or debit card or make a cheque payable to Electric Storm Youth and send it to 34 Seaside Avenue, Lancing, BN15 8BY.

Further information can be found on www.electricstormyouth.co.uk