A youth centre which has served its community for 23 years is facing closure over a lack of funds.
The money to run the Senghenydd Youth Drop In Centre (SYDIC) will run out in June this year if its fortunes do not improve.
There is widespread anger that the centre, which helps around 120 youngsters a year, cannot access any funding through the council or other charitable means.
Villagers have organised an all-day protest to highlight the centre’s plight and raise funds. This will be held on Saturday, February 29 from 11am.
Project Manager Dave Brunton, who has run SYDIC for more than two decades, said: “At the end of June, we won’t have the money to do the evenings.
“Because we offer a general service, and we are seen doing a lot of little bits, nobody wants to fund the whole thing.
“We pushed. We have to become self-sustainable, we’ve not just been sitting back waiting for something to happen – we are trying to do things.”
He added: “It’s not just important for the youngsters, it’s important for the community. It’s a fact that we changed the attitude and the way youngsters communicate and worked with the community.
“It would be terrible to lose that because Senghenydd is a good community and we want to keep it like that.”
SYDIC was formed in March 1997 and its staff work regularly with around 120 youngsters between the ages of 11 and 25.
It has been a leader in its area and was the first youth organisation in Caerphilly County Borough to receive the ‘Children and Young Peoples Partnership Quality Mark’.
Running SYDIC without spending on equipment costs around £154,000 per year.
For the financial year ending March 31, 2020, SYDIC did not receive any money from Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Funding has been granted from charitable organisations such Garfield Weston and Children in Need. However this runs out in June.
Funding from the Henry Smith Charity runs until June 2021.
Since April 2019, Dave Brunton has not been taking home a full-time wage, despite not cutting back his hours. His job and those of five other social workers are at risk.
For this financial year, Caerphilly County Borough Council received £556,000 from Welsh Government for youth services.
The council has decided to use the money to fund its own service, citing that it meets Welsh Government’s overall youth strategy targeting things such as homelessness, people not in education, employment or training, and professional learning amongst other things.
Aber Valley ward councillor John Roberts said: “Despite winning an abundance of awards, despite being highlighted by Welsh Government as Best Practice Youth Work, grants are drying up and SYDIC cannot make ends meet.
“It is a shame that the council cannot recognise the good work that SYDIC are doing and find it in their hearts to share a little bit of that money out, to help keep such a valuable group going.”
In response, the council’s deputy leader Cllr Barbara Jones said: “We recognise the valuable contribution that SYDIC has made to young people in the Aber Valley.
“The council’s Youth Service has historically provided both direct and indirect support to SYDIC and will continue to do so, in addition to continuing to provide extensive youth work support to young people and families in the Aber Valley.”
The community of Senghenydd has rallied round and have been fundraising to save the centre, but it may not be enough.
Laurence Clay, SYDIC’s Chair of Directors has appealed for further help.
He said: “If you know of a business or any other kind of sponsorship support that might be out there for us, please tell them about us.”
• People can donate online to SYDIC’s effort to remain open by visiting obv.sr/sydic