A YOUTH initiative is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Corbridge Youth Initiative (CYI) is marking two decades of working with young people in the community.
Project manager Gillian Wood aaid CYI originated from Corbridge Youth Club.
"Our central focus is still working with young people and children from Corbridge but welcome others from surrounding villages and towns on a weekly basis, due to the catchment area of the local middle and high schools," she said.
"The success of CYI speaks for itself. 20 years ago it supported two weekly sessions in the village, with several low-key fundraising events supporting a Christmas treat for young people.
"The charity's turning point came 12 years ago when Northumberland County Council drastically cut vital youth services.
"CYI stepped up, ensuring young people in Corbridge and surrounding rural areas had somewhere to go and something to do," Gillian said.
"Today, an average of 80-plus young people walk through its doors, accessing numerous Youth Work-led activities and support. CYI is well-known and respected with a proven history of making a significant difference to young peoples lives, health and well-being.
"Our core groups are specifically for young people aged 9 to 18. We offer support with access to employment, education and training through our Job Club services for ages 16 to 21, and give wider support where possible to families."
CYI provide a yearly Summer Activities programme, which continued during 2020 and 2021, ensuring children and young people were being seen and worked with when many services were unable to run and provide support, Gillian said.
An annual report published in 2021 included quotes from young people involved in CYI.
"It's fun and it makes me feel more involved in the community."
Another said: "At times it felt like it kept me sane (having somewhere to go)."
Gillian added for a team of five part-time Youth Workers and a Board of 10 trustees, CYI 'punches well above its weight' and 'to be a part of CYI is a privilege'.
"The charity owes its success to the young people and community it serves," she said.
"We are thankful to all who have been a part of its history. As pressures from life, society and an ever-increasing uncertainty around what the future looks like, now more than ever Youth Services are needed and should be supported," Gillian said.
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