Teenagers take steps to youth centre

TEENAGERS in coastal villages have taken the first step towards setting up their own youth centre.

Youngsters aged between 13 and 19 from Hemsby, Winterton, Thurne and Ormesby, got to work on clearing the building which will be the base for their Hazy Daiz youth project, which will provide a safe place for them to live.

The group, along with members of Caister and Rural Flegg Safer Neighbourhood Teams, cleared rubbish from the buildings at the back of the Congregational Church on Yarmouth Road, Hemsby, filling two skips provided free of charge by local company W T Waste.

The group of teenagers set up the Hazy Daiz project with the help of local police with the aim of creating a place they could meet without being accused of anti-social behaviour.

The project was the winner of Project Butterfly contest organised by the Mercury's sister paper the Eastern Daily Press, Norfolk Police and Virgin Money.

As a result the group will receive £10,000 help make their dream a reality and make a big difference in their lives and other young people in Hemsby and the surrounding area.

Those involved in the clear up day were Charlie Burrage and Aaron Kern from Hazy Daiz, church Pastor Frank Little and his wife Brenda, Debbie Giles from Community Connections, Debbie Gowen, Michelle Hargrave, Jude Ward, and Andy Brown from the SNT and Eddie Stedeman, of Caister parish council and youth worker.

Maria's Café, on Beach Road, supplied refreshments.

Police spokesman Jon Smith said: “Project Butterfly aims to support ideas which will improve neighbourhood conditions or provide activities for youngsters. The aim is to improve the quality of life for all ages and groups, ideally allowing all sections of the community to help one another.”