THE FORMER Devon County Council Horizons youth centre building in Kingsbridge will be re-opening its doors shortly, having been closed for more than a year as a result of county council austerity.

The Family Advice Support Team - a local social enterprise, have obtained a two year lease from Devon County Council with the support of Kingsbridge Town Council, and are currently breathing new life into the building.

Their aim is to make a positive social impact by promoting local support services for families in the town, including children, young people and parents.

James Highet, a managing director at FAST said: ‘We want it to be a community hub and a resource for families and children in Kingsbridge and the surrounding areas to be able to come in and access support.

‘Myself and colleagues have all had a background within the education, health and social care arena.

‘We will be collaborating with drop-in services, such as those for domestic violence and abuse, sexual health, drug and alcohol abuse and counselling services.

‘We also want the space to be made available to the community, with all the facilities and resources we have in the building - it’s there if anybody wants to use it.’

They have inherited a modest inventory with the building - including a great selection of music equipment, with electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, DJ equipment and PAs available to future service users.

James continued: ‘In the evenings, we’ll be hoping to restore the youth service provision, not necessarily the focused and targeted youth work that went on before, but at least the space for young people to come and hang out, be with their friends and have professionals who have worked with young people on hand to talk to, if there is that need.

James added: ‘My history within social care was mostly around preventative social work and early intervention - there are not enough of those services out there - not enough support within communities.

‘Often it’s a matter of mopping up the problems that have escalated, rather than actually being able to identify a need and making sure that it doesn’t deteriorate in the first place.

‘With having a multi-agency approach to our work, working and collaborating with other health and social care professionals and also within education, we want to offer a holistic ‘one-stop shop’ service.’

FAST are currently working with Tone Leisure in running the ‘Vibe’ youth leisure nights, held every Friday between 7.30pm and 9.30pm at the Quayside Leisure Centre. In the last 12 months, these sessions have been accessed by over 180 young people in the town.

James, Laura and the team would be grateful for any offers of help in getting the new centre ready and are contactable via their website www.familyadvicesupportteam.org.uk.