Ixworth Youth Junction awarded more than £13,000 by National Lottery Community Fund

A youth club in a Suffolk village that was likely to close within a year has been awarded more than £13,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Up to 20 young people regularly attend Ixworth Youth Junction every Thursday with activities such as arts and crafts, yoga, country walks, smoothie making, pizza evenings and fish and chip evenings.

The youth group started up two years ago and was originally supported with costs by Ixworth Parish Council as well as local councillors and organisations.

Donations of equipment included a pool table, a table tennis table, a football table and arts and crafts equipment.

On top of the activities, information on safety advice and healthy lifestyles is provided in the sessions with a recent water safety session delivered by a volunteer.

Mike Jones, who is trustee at the Jiggens Memorial Village Hall and Playing Field Trust in Ixworth, was tasked with developing the project for young people two years ago.

Mr Jones submitted a funding bid to the National Lottery Community Fund earlier this year as the youth club was set to close within 12 months without additional funding.

He said: “Over the last two years I have worked hard to set up and establish a youth club that could be accessed by young people of Ixworth and the surrounding villages.

“Although the club was slow to gain momentum and took time to build the trust of young people and despite facing many obstacles such as funding, we have now managed, through hard work and persistence, to have a thriving youth club.

“We are proud to say we have been awarded £13,445 which will enable us to continue to deliver the Ixworth Youth Junction for the next two years.

“This award means so much to our community. It is fantastic not just for the Jiggens Trust having submitted a successful application, but for the young people living in our rural community who will now benefit from a local provision just for them.”

“Our club is able to offer a safe space to meet friends and make new ones, a place to learn new skills in a relaxed non-judgemental environment and most of all to have fun.”

Zoe Lynch is supported at the youth club sessions by a team of volunteer workers, including Nick Laughton, Liz Fordham and Niamh Pugh.

Ixworth Youth Junction is based at Ixworth Village Hall and welcomes people aged 11 to 16 years old every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm.