Hexham Youth Initiative celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary and is asking for your help.

Hexham Youth Initiative – known far and wide as ‘Youthy’ – came into being officially in 1998 following long conversations with the people of Hexham and is now celebrating its twenty fifth birthday.

The original aim was ‘to improve the lives of all young people in the Hexham area' and was the brain child of Rosemary Theobalds and councillors John Lynch and Norman Reed and with Patrick Eavis as the first chair of trustees.

‘Youthy’, based at Hexham Community Centre, quickly became a powerful presence in the lives of the young people of the town and the surrounding area and continues to thrive thanks to the efforts of the Project Co-ordinator, Keda Norman, and a highly qualified and dedicated core team of staff supported by the trustees and volunteer workers.

The project’s work is founded on the belief that ‘every young person should have the opportunity to feel supported and valued’ and the core staff work tirelessly to make a difference for all young people in the Hexham area.

HYI also provides a huge range of activities all year round embracing all young people in the area from age 8 to young adults.

These activities include regular clubs and groups such as Art Club, Young Carers, LGBT, Eco Club, Job Club, Footy, a Parents’ Group and creche and the Duke of Edinburgh Award offering the chance to take both bronze and silver awards.

There are also frequent drop- in sessions and holiday activities for all: the activities of the 2022 summer holiday programme were attended by 370 young people with lunch provided every day thanks to funding from the Holiday Action Fund.

But over the past few years, statutory youth provision in Northumberland has been reduced greatly so the role of charities such as HYI is ever more important

A spokesperson of the group said: "Now, in our silver anniversary year, we are appealing for additional help.

"Anyone can make a financial contribution to ‘Youthy’ via the project’s website at www.hexhamyi.org.uk/support-us.

"A donation of £25, one pound for each year of HYI’s birthday would be brilliant but any amount, either as a one off donation or as a monthly or annual gift makes a difference especially in this time of rising costs and growing need."