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WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE SAY
I joined Frimley Green Youth Centre as a naive 13 year old. I had no life experience and no dreams or aspirations. I was under achieving at school and was nearly suspended from one school due to my bad behaviour. I used to dance at the centre and saw a man in the office one day who introduced himself as Nick Jolly. We asked him 'WHEN IS THE YOUTH CENTRE GOING TO BE OPEN? I asked the question expecting the same old answer and brush off, however the answer I got was 'WELL GET SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A COMMITTEE AND WE'LL LOOK AT YOU OPENING THE YOUTH CENTRE' at first I don't think I understood what was being said to me and just how much hard work it was going to take to open the youth centre. I was used to people telling me what to do not giving me the choice as to whether it happens or not. Me and my friends got together and went back to the youth centre and spoke to Nick again, we set up our first meeting and formed the first Frimley Green Young People's Committee. The first meeting consisted of lots of us shouting at each other and achieving absolutely nothing however gradually we learnt to sit down and discuss things that were important to us as young people.
Frimley Green Youth Centre of FGYC as it became know to us, took over our lives and we wanted to be there all the time and looked forward to every meeting. After months of training, discussions, fundraising and decorating we were finally at the stage where we were proud to open the youth centre and call it OURS! For the first time our other friends could come into the centre and see how hard we had worked and the outcome of all that work! We successfully opened OUR youth centre and we felt a sense of ownership. We had worked to achieve this and we were not going to let anyone ruin t for us!
That is how it all started however that was just the start and since that time I have been involved in many projects including Sexual Health project which has been delivered to 3316 young people in local schools as well as FGYC which won an award for one of the best projects in the country. I also have been able to become a qualified Netball and Football Coach.
I am now a police officer and have been for nearly two years. I believe that I owe this to the youth centre and to Nick who has been a constant line of support to me. FGYC helped me realise that I could achieve things if I put my mind to it and did not need to behave badly and shout in order to achieve these things.
PLEASE SAVE FRIMLEY GREEN YOUTH CENTRE AND GIVE OTHER PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD!!
Yours faithfully Samantha (ex young person at FGYC)
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To whom it may concern
My name is Stephanie Clayton, and I have been a loyal member of the Frimley Green Youth Centre for 2 years. I am writing to tell you how terrible I think it is that your trying to close down my youth club. During my two years at the youth club, I have took part in a Women's Sexual Health Project, teaching young women all the things we need to know about sex, relationships and all the things that come with it. I have also been a member of the Anti Bullying Team, in which I have done a considerable amount of training over the last year so that I, along with 7 other young people, could deliver an Anti-Bullying presentation to Year 7 in Tomlinscote School, where I attend Year 11. For this Anti-Bullying project, we, as a group have won several awards, due to our incredible achievements.
My youth worker, Nick Jolly, holds a different session at the youth centre, every night for all different reasons and for all different types of people. He holds a Scooter Project - teaching young people how to fix up Scooters, both old and new, a Drop-in Project - where Year 9's can go to chill out with their friends, instead of hanging around on the streets, causing trouble and living up to the reputation us young people seem to have acquired. Nick also holds a Club Shout evening, for disabled young people. As you can see, because there is such a wide range of different evenings at the youth club, any age or sex of young people can benefit from them.
Nick Jolly is 100% committed to the young people he works with and is an incredibly kind and generous man, and this is why us young people respond so well to him and what he does. Youth Clubs like mine don't run any where else, and if you do choose to shut Frimley Green Youth Centre down, I will not attend any other youth club because I know it won't compare. My youth club has not only improved my life, but also improved all the lives of people we have helped, including those who we delivered the Beat-Bullying session to. I strongly disagree with your plans to shut it down, and so does everyone around me.
Recently, I went to my Farnbrorough Tech interview to try to get into a CASHE Childcare course. This course is very popular and has already had too many people apply for it. However, when I went to my interview and I produced all the awards I had won for taking part in the Beat Bullying project, I obviously impressed the interviewer because I got offered a place straight away. The certificated I had, obviously gave me that extra push to get a place in the only course I would want to do, even though my grades weren't the best they'd seen. And I am totally convinced that with out all my achievements from the project, I wouldn't have been offered a definite space. This is another way which FGYC has drastically helped and changed the life of a young person.
I really hope this has helped to change your mind, as without the youth club, there will be a big whole in our community, and the people who so deeply enjoy going there and taking part in everything Nick holds.
Yours faithfully, Stephanie Clayton
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My name is James Asbridge and I read in my local newspaper that the Frimley Green Youth Club is closing down this is the only the one place that I have to go and enjoy going, without this club I will have no were else to go and will have to go back to hanging around in dark parks and outside petrol stations and shops. At the moment I am doing a scooter course and am learning to solve problems with motor engines, I enjoy doing this and this is giving me a head start in my future as a mechanic and has given me a idea of what this job is going to be like if I want to chose it as a career. I have been able to socialise with a new group of friends and now I am a lot more confident to make new friends in and outside the club. without the club I am going to lose my friends and will not be able to learn new skills I will need in life. I am very disappointed about this.
Yours sincerely, James Asbridge
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Over many years I have enjoyed participating in the Frimley Green Youth Centre's clubs and activities. I have recently been involved in projects with the Youth Centre and a hard working team of of young people including myself, have just successfully opened a Drop-in for the younger community. It would be such a shame if yet another Youth Centre was shut down, especially when some of my fondest memories on growing up are held within this centre.
There are many activities that take place within the centre and I, along with many other residents of Frimley Green would be indebted if you could keep it that way. So please, please do not shut down the Youth Centre and ruin the achievements in the making. To a lot of children this is all they have to look forward to, and in many ways the Youth Centre has helped me. So please keep the Frimley Green Youth Centre open for our sakes and for the children of today.
Thanking you in anticipation, yours faithfully. Dan Burvill
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Dear Sirs
As a young person living in Frimley find it amazing that such a fantastic unit, Frimley Green Youth Centre (FGYC) is being considered for closure. FGYC works with young people from all over the area and all different backgrounds. I personally have benefited from the brilliant work done by Nick Jolly and his team and I would like to think that other young people can continue to benefit as I have for the forseeable future.
As a young person who was a member of FGYC for over three years I played football in the Surrey Youth Games, redecorated the youth centre and took part in a 16+ anti-bullying project, which involved doing around a year's worth of training, including a residential weekend, culminating in delivering a workshop in a local school, Tomlinscote, to around 250 other young people. None of this would have been possible without FGYC.
During my time as a young person at FGYC I met people I would never otherwise have met. My confidence grew and my awareness of myself and those around me improved dramatically. FGYC is a place where young people are given a voice and the opportunity to feel valued as a person both within the youth centre walls and in the wider community. It gives you the chance to develop your character and ideas and the support to show them. I know of nowhere else, particularly for young people, that provides this service.
If FGYC is closed what alternative is there for young people in the local area that is safe and secure, involves minimal or no travelling and gives them opportunities like I had for little or no cost? FGYC is unique and puts young people first. Where else does that?
This just summaries what FGYC has done for me and describes a mere fraction of what it has to offer young people. To explain in detail would take too long. I am just one of the many that FGYC has made a difference to. Without it my life would be poorer now.
How can you justify closing such a well used and valued centre?
Yours faithfully Kerry (ex young person at FGYC)
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Hi my name is Kevin Wells
I recently read my local newspaper and heard the bad news that they are trying to shut down my only local youth centre, which has upset me. Me and my friends benefit so much from this youth club. It gives us somewhere to go, keeps us out of trouble and we learn new things every week. I am currently involved in the Scooter Project which is on a Monday night. I have learnt loads about scooters which will benefit me because I am thinking of becoming a mechanic. I have made loads of new friends, and I have also learnt socialising skills, health & safety and I feel like I have a head start in my future which I am really thankful for Nick & Darren for giving me this opportunity. This youth centre has taught me how to be a responsible person an take responsibility for my own actions.
I hope you take the time to read my personal testimomy.
Yours sincerely Kevin Wells
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My name is Emily
I am 14 years old and I've been coming here since October 2005 and I love every moment of it, it's fun and I like seeing my friends and if I did not come here I would be at home bored and watching TV and laying on my bed getting fat. I like playing sport and have partys and playing games and have a laugh and it makes my day. If the youth club was shut down I would not be able to learn about sex and condoms and wet dreams and I would not be able to play football with all my friends and make nice things. I would not be able to do cooking nights and watch TV with all my friends. I would miss it a lot.
Please, please, please what ever you do do not shut the youth club down.
Emily (Club Shout member)
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Dear whoever is against Club Shout & other youth Clubs
I love going to Club Shout so much, it makes my day a lot better and I don't want you to shut down Club Shout! It's like a bit of heaven, it's cool coming here It's a excellent ace building, computer suite, vending machine, pool table etc. I would be in rage if you shut it down! Please, please, I'm begging you to keep it (and other clubs!)
Oliver (Club Shout member)
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My name is Claire
I don't want Club Shout to shut down because it is a place to chill out and I have only joined in September I really enjoy it it gives me something to do in the evening. I don't want it to shut down because I want to learn about all projects the ones that I don't no of .I want to go on at least 2 residential trips. I like this building because it has got a computer suite sports hall coffee bar and lounge that we sit in. I like to socialise with other people. I went bowling for one of the outings that was my first outing that was fun. Why are you shutting it down.
Claire (Club Shout member)
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I have been coming here (Club Shout) for six years. I have enjoyed the residential - last year sexual health. I also enjoy coming to Frimley Green Youth Centre - Club Shout on a Tuesday evening. I wouldn't be happy if the youth club was to shut down. I have previously done my Duke of Edinburgh Awards here. If the youth club was to shut down, there would not be a Club Shout to go to which I enjoy a lot and so does everyone else who uses it. WHY ARE YOU CLOSING DOWN THIS GREAT PLACE?!
Frimley Green Youth Centre has taught me so much, I'm a more confident person and feel alot more easy talking to people out of my friendship group. I also attend Frimley Green Youth Centre in the school holidays called Challengers, without Frimley Green Youth Centre Challengers would not be able to run there.
James (Club Shout member)
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I am a member of Club Shout and have been for many years. Without Frimley Green Youth Centre and Club Shout on a Tuesday night I would not have any other time to see my friends out of school. I have become a more confident person and can speak to people I don't know easier. I have been on 2 residentials that I have planned with the group,. This gave me ownership of the weekend.
This is the only place that allow us to have a say in what we wanna learn. I have done a couple of sections of my D of E .Last year I attended a residential on sexual health and learned SO much. If Club Shout was to close I'd miss my friends that I have met here and lose contact with. When I heard that Frimley Green Youth Centre would close I was upset. I like the building with all the computers and games we play.
DON'T CLOSE!!
Chris (Club Shout member)
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I have been going to Club Shout for 5 years. I like to see my friends and socialise. I have done projects and workshops, like relationships, drama, sexual health - they have helped me. I like the building, it is one of the best things going on in my life. I want to stay here as it means a lot to me i travel a long way to get here.
I like that I get asked about what projects I want to do like dancing, music project, going bowling. I want to work on awards as I have received certificates for my work on projects.
Please, please don't do this to us - don't let us down please. Is there anything I can do to stop it please let me know.
That's why I come here I come here because I am liked. It helps me to grow up - that's why I'm here - that's why I come and that's who I have become a teenager/adult. It has helped me to be a better person and to grow up. Give us this place - give us another chance.
ps Don't knock this building down.
Ian (Club Shout member)
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My name is Laura
I'm agenst Club Shout shutting down because I like cumming here because it's something i do out of school, if i didn't come here i would not socilise with other people. And going out i like the building. I don't want Club shout to shut down why are you shutting it down.
Laura (Club Shout member)
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My name is Jamie I have been attending Club Shout at Frimley Green Youth Centre for a year. I think we need a youth centre because it keeps young people off the streets and is a place to go to meet up with mates. I enjoy attending because I enjoy getting involved with projects and going on residential. I am currently doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award which means leading the group and supporting the young people at the youth club.
PLEASE DONT CLOSE
Jamie (Club Shout member)
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My name is Kylie, I really enjoy Club Shout because I get to meet new people. I have only just started coming to the youth club. I get a couple of hours away from my family. I get to socialaise with other people. I don't think that shut the club because it is the only club that I think is the best club that I have ever been too. Please could you keep club shout open for young people. The young people at the club have worked very hard with there work
Kylie (Club Shout member)
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I have been going to Club Shout for five years and I ave larned many things like sexual health, drugs and bullying I am also working towards my D of E (Duke of Edinburgh award) which world help me towards my fruture caree.
There are so many things to do at Club Shout as well as lurning about evre day life, we do all kind of project and we all enjoye doing them. going to Club Shout helped me to commuticate with other people and to make new friend which is hard for me to do, so if you do decide to close down the club I well no longer have nuthin to do on a trusday afternoon this may not be importent to you but this is importent to me and my frutar.
Yours sinsrely
Jamie ( Club Shout member)
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My name is Caroline, I am 19 ears old and I have been coming to Club Shout ever since I was 14. I come here because I like to get a break from my family and be with friends. If Club Shout closes down, I would feel upset and let down. It's a nice club, I like the building and I have loads of friends. I have enjoyed all the projects
Caroline (Club Shout member)
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I have bin coming to Club Shout for about fore years and have learnet a lot of stuff about sexual health, drugs and bullying. It has bin lots of fun at Club Shout and we are in the medle of the DOEA (Duke of Edinburgh Award).
It is lots of fun when we go out we go bowling, to the thearter have a pizza a DVD night but the best theing is going on the residential in the New Forest.
Aaron (Club Shout member)
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To whom it may concern
I have been part of Frimley Green Youth Centre (FGYC) for 6 years now, and for three of those years I was a young person on the Young People's Committee. When I was told of the devastating news that our youth centre might be closed I was totally shocked and I must say it upset me a lot. FGYC has been a large part of my life over the years, as for all the things that I have achieved whilst being here are due to it being such a great place for young people.
Being on the Young People's Committee I was given so many opportunities to take part in various activities and events. For example I went on a sexual health residential where I was made more aware of the various issues surrounding sex and relationships through a number of brilliant workshops. The information that I got out of that residential was much more than what I ever learned at school. The youth club makes learning fun, which in turn helps you build up useful knowledge that will stay with you forever.
Myself and the rest of the committee also went on a team building residential in order for us all to gain the skills required in order to work successfully as a group. This residential was brilliant, it was really fun and we learnt the various ways in which people can work together as a team. Without Frimley Green Youth Centre, this would have never happened and I wouldn't have the people skills and teambuilding skills I have today. With these skills in hand it meant that we were able to come back and start planning our Drop-In sessions that we wanted to open for other young people, so that they could come down to the youth centre one night a week, be in a safe environment and have fun either by chilling out on the computers, playing basketball, pool, air hockey or socialising with their friends. This goal was reached after a lot of hard work and planning was put into it from us as the committee, and we were able to run a Drop-In session successfully on a weekly basis.
One of the biggest things that the youth centre has given me is such a great sense of achievement, I have managed to achieve so much all from the help of the youth centre and the people within it, especially Nick Jolly who puts his all into FGYC and has made it all happen for anyone and everyone who has been lucky enough to be part of this fantastic youth centre. Without the help and support from Nick them I would never have been able to achieve as much as what I have done over the years. I have become a much more confident person which helped me at school as I at last had the courage to stand up in front of the class and do a presentation with great confidence, and come out with a mark I was so proud of. I was only able to do that because of the skills that I learnt from being part of FGYC Young People's Committee.
At FGYC the young people are everything, it's all about them, it was when I was a young person and still is now. FGYC is all about giving young people a voice and I believe that that our youth centre done this extremely well, as we get to put across our views and opinions to someone who listen, and that person is again Nick Jolly and he supported us with all we wanted to do. We did different fundraising events, one of the most memorable being a 10 hour stayawake which although it was tiring it again put to the test our team skills and we all had to work together to keep each other awake.
Everything that we did on the Young People's Committee constantly helped us build relationships with each other and also other people in our everyday lives. I felt that I was able to make friends much more easily, as I'd built up my people skills therefore I felt much more comfortable when talking to people I hadn't met before.
All that I have included in this letter are examples of how FGYC affected me as a young person, and therefore I really hope that it highlights what a wonderful place it really is. Giving so much to so many young people. It would be a great loss to a lot of people if it was decided that this youth centre was to be closed. Therefore I really think that all aspects should be considered in the deciding process. In my opinion we need more youth centres like this as it provides a safe place for young people and opportunities are endless, you just wouldn't get this kind of service anywhere else. Frimley Green Youth Centre is a great asset to this community and to lose it would cause such sadness.
Yours sincerely Zoe (ex young person at FGYC)
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The youth centre has provided me with many opportunities as a young person. Through these opportunities I have built confidence which has helped me to further my career and also make very important decisions such as going to university. Being part of many various projects I have learnt new skills that have made me the person I am. Having experienced being a young person at the youth centre and knowing what they provide for the young people of the area I think that closing the centre would deny young people the opportunities I had as a young person. Young people are already labelled as trouble makers within the community, taking the youth centre away from Frimley Green will not improve this situation.
Zoe (ex young person at FGYC)
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To whom it may concern
I will just start by saying that if F.G.Y.C is closed everything that myself and others worked for as young people will go to waste. Even our small funding raisings activities such as the time we did a sponsored walk to raise money for a sofa at the centre, as well as the time and determination put into projects such as the 'drop-in' and 'beat bullying project' I participated in.
I first had contact with F.G.Y.C because my friends and I had the opportunity to go on a sexual health and relationships residential. we realised there was so much that young people needed to know and wanted them to have the same opportunities to learn as we did so because the sex education at our school was so poor we encouraged our school to contact F.G.Y.C, they did and as a result F.G.Y.C has had a direct link with the secondary school since and now delivers sexual health and relationships education to year 8's over a whole day of workshops once a year, which is very beneficial.
We realised that we worked well together as a group and loved being part of F.G.Y.C so we became a young people's committee. being on the young people's committee changed me in so many ways; I now had an interest that distracted me from my previous interest e.g. 'hanging about' in parks and on the streets in an environment which gains young people their bad reputation.
As a young person there are not always adults who you feel you can trust and turn to but I developed a trusting and understanding relationship with Nick and the other youth workers at F.G.Y.C and just being able to talk to them helped me through issues such as peer pressure, drink and drug awareness, sexual health and relationships, low self confidence, school issues, family issues and building relationships with others.
I got so much from being an F.G.Y.C member for nearly three years, personal achievements such as gaining ciofidence but I also realised as a young person I could make a difference to other young people by providing them with something to do i.e. running a Drop-In and by delivering an anti-bullying day to year 7 & 8's at Tomlinscote School. I also participated in a career's residential in which two days I learnt skills concerning work and interviews that will last me a lifetime.
I want F.G.Y.C to stay open and for young people to have the same opportunities I did so badly that I am currently starting a foundation youth work course so I can help deliver to young people what my youth workers at F.G.Y.C. did for me.
I hope what I have said will be considered and help stop the closure of F.G.Y.C!
Katie (ex young person at FGYC)
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This time last year I would be sitting down a park, with a half bottle of Vodka which i just persuaded a random man to buy for me. I would do this with anyone i knew who was free. And this would be my doings 5 out of 7 nights a week, regardless to whether it was a school-night or not. At the time I was 14, and I would be smoking, drinking and socialising with people that I wouldn't even give the time of day now. Most of my "friends" where drug users, heavy drinkers, or anyone over the age of 18 who would buy me alcohol when ever i wanted it. And to me... I was living a dream. This was all I wanted to do. And I would do anything to do it. I lied to my parents so I could go out and drink, and I was failing in school because I was drinking, or recovering from it.
I went through this schedule for about 11 months, until something terrible happened I was rushed to hospital at 3 in the morning after a Friday night of getting especially drunk. I had liver failure. Not surprisingly down to my excessive drinking. I had to stay in hospital for about 4 weeks, recovering and I was not allowed to see any of my "friends" for the whole time, and most of my family couldn't bear to visit me because I was a "disgrace to the family". Being in the hospital was my worst night mere. All around me where people dying. I couldn't understand why I was there: this wasn't a part of my life. My life was completely evolved around me; I would do what I wanted, when I wanted. Now I was being told what to do by doctors. What I did, ate and most importantly, drank was up to them and if I didn't follow their instructions carefully, there would be some terrible consequences.
Once I was released, I promised myself, and my family, I would not go back to my Yobbish lifestyle. Not only for my own health, but I culd not go through breaking my Mum's heart again. So I stopped going out all together. I didn't have any real friends and I couldn't see my old friends. Until 3 months later when I bumped into one of my old school friends, who told me about Frimley Green Youth Centre and everything it did. I decided to get involved. so I went along a few times, and found myself becoming a regular member of the youth centre. I have now been a committed member of FGYC for over a year, and am loving every minute of it. I have made tons of new friends, and am a whole new person.
Frimley Green Youth Centre has literally been the difference between life and death for me, and i couldn't thank Nick Jolly and all his workers enough.
Please don't make me go back to the Vodka......Save my Youth Centre! Without it, I will have no where to go and nothing to do, along with the 100's of other children you will also be letting down. This centre means so much to me and to everyone who attends it. Please don't take away the only place that's safe for us.
Anonymous
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As a young person for many years i have been to frimley green youth centre and it has played a great part of my teenage life. This has helped me develop skills that i would never had learnt from else where. I took part in many residentials, including sexual health, which is an incredible workshop which opened our eyes to things that schools were not prepared to tell us but was so necessary to know. Another workshop was to give you interview skills and skills for future jobs. These residentials are to name but a few in which frimley green youth centre staff provide for different groups of young people. For many people it is a way to socialise in which people might find hard to in normal circumstances aswell as doing so many different projects to broaden their horizons. There is at least a project on everyday of the week which provides different activities for young people. Through out my teenage years, if i would not of attended frimley green youth centre i would not be the same person i am today. It has taught me so many things about myself and new things that i will never forget and the experiences that i have learnt i will take with me forever.
Holly (ex young person at FGYC)
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My sister Emily goes to the youth club at Frimley Green. It's difficult for her to socialise with her friends either during the week or at the weekends because all her friends live so far away.
There is not much to do for 14 year olds in Windlesham or surrounding areas, especially those with moderate learning difficulties. I now this as I am a 17 year old living in Surrey Heath. If the youth club closes this would mean that Emily cannot enjoy a normal social life. This would also mean very little respite for either me or my parents as Emily needs structured activities to manage her behaviour.
Justin Trowse
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I have been involved with the youth centre for a number of years now, this centre has offered and provided me with numerous opportunities and qualities. I am now the better person because of this. I am a better person and this youth centre has been a large part of it. It has made me ten times more confident, and more importantly given me a voice. It has only been in the last six years attending that I have been listened to and taken seriously. At FGYC it is so important young people are given a voice, that's why its such a fantastic youth centre. At FGYC young people are priority. I was part of all projects, these projects I gained so much from, even simple things like communication & listening skills all things that I need to know, now that I am working. There was a real sense of achievement after completing the project or even just getting involved it was a great experience and I learnt so much in a fun way - not like school!
It's so upsetting to think these opportunities will no longer be available to other young people if the centre closes. It's upsetting to think such a fantastic place will no longer exist . Where will young people go? There go back to roaming the streets where the stereotypical view of young people will never be lost. Most young people don't want to be 'hanging about' on the street, they want to bet at FGYC making a difference.
The opportunities this youth centre is offering constantly is brilliant, I was lucky enough to have experienced it but I want other young people to too. The centre and Nick J has offered alot, not only to myself but everyone around. I strongly believe we need lots more youth centres like this to ensure a safe place for young people, where opportunities are ongoing. If this centre was taken away it would be missed dearly and I'm sure it would reflect in the attitude & behaviour of young people.
I hope I am clear in writing, my opinions are strong about the possible closure & I hope you consider seriously the impact closing FGYC may have.
Yours sincerely Tara (ex young person at FGYC)
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My name is Louise Newland I am 16 years old and have been attending Frimley Green Youth Club for two years and I have done loys of projects including a young women's sexual health project and a anti-bullying project which we went into Tomlinscote school and taught groups of year 7's for a day. We have also done some fund raisers to fund for a residential weekend for our training. Attending my youth club has changed my life and the way I treat people it has also kept me from hanging around the streets at night. It has made me more confidant and it has changed my personality and my outlook on life.
If this youth club was shut down I wouldn't attend another because I would not achieve anything whereas if I carried on going to the Frimley Green youth club I would be able to do more projects and my sister could also attend and achieve what I have achieved. It would be sad to see such a close group drift away and all that we have achieved.
Louise Newland
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Dear Sirs
I have grown up in Frimley Green all my teenage life. As a young person there wasn't any provision or places for us to go. Then Nick Jolly turned up at our local youth centre. He welcomed my friends and I into the youth centre and we started to make the dull, unwelcoming building into a young, trendy welcoming building for us and other young people in the area to use.
That was 9 years ago, and the youth centre is still providing and excellent and outstanding service to young people and they have won many awards. The centre has a variety of projects running every night of the week, Nick also takes his staff team into the local schools on their Sex Education days & Beat Bullying days to deliver workshops. I know we didn't have anything like that when I was at school, should we really be taking this all away from the youth of today?
Without the Frimley Green Youth Centre I would not have achieved half of what I have, please think twice and give FGYC a chance to prove how much it has to offer the young people of today.
Yours sincerely Gemma (ex young person at FGYC)
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To whom it may concern
How can you consider closing down this brilliant youth centre? Have you ever been there? To be honest I still can't believe that this youth centre is on the list to be closed down.
As a young person who attended this youth centre to hang about with my friends and even to be on the young people's committee on a Thursday night and be treated like an adult at the age of fourteen, it was oh my god! I had responsibilities and had fun when I attended the young people's committee. The youth workers were and still are excellent in what they do. They taught me so many things, it made a real difference, for example I didn't have much confidence when I first came down to this youth centre and when I became one of the young people's committee I had confidence coming out of my ear holes!!. This youth centre really makes a difference.
The youth centre has helped me achieve so many things, for example to be a qualified football coach, to say how I feel, to complete soccer stars and much more. The staff at FGYC have so much patients, they take young people (including me) on residential are are in a log cabin 24/7 and some of us are not the easiest people to get on with, staying up all night, strops (come on we all so this) and just being a typical young person well this is me anyway.
The youth centre felt like my own home, I felt so comfortable there and could be myself and nobody judged me not even the youth workers. I did so much fundraising there to buy things for our pleasure and to let other young people have a good time, we raised enough money to put money towards a foosball machine and dance mats. It was great FGYC actually made a difference to young people's lives, it has changed mine!
Before I started coming down to FGYC my friends and i used to go out and get drunk at the weekends and hang about on the streets, if we wern't getting drunk we would be in the frimley green bus stop or at the ESSO garage causing trouble, this all changed when FGYC taught me not to be afraid to tell people what young people need and express my personal opinions. This made me prove to myself that there is other things then hanging about on the streets making other life hell.
There is loads FGYC has to offer young people and all the projects the staff and young people run (COME DOWN AND HAVE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU DO COME YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT THIS YOUTH CENTRE)
As a young person once you should know how this feels to be so passionate about something, and if this centre gets closed down you will break so many young peoples hearts that use this FGYC on a regular basis. I know I wouldn't want to be responsible for that!
Please Please Please reconsider, this would be a big mistake if the council close FGYC.
Hoping the closure will not go ahead.
Charlie (ex young person at FGYC)
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To whom it may concern
I am writing to express my utter disbelief that there is a strong chance Frimley Green Youth Centre is to be closed, as part of the budget cuts imposed by Surrey County Council.
I was part of FGYC for 7 years. It started out as a drop-in that me and a group of friends helped run as part of a committee. We were the first young people to start a committee with Nick Jolly at FGYC but we certainly havent been the last. We, aswell as the young people that followed, were given amazing opportunities. Helping to realise with Nick what young people like ourselves needed. For once we were listened to and given a voice, from what we wanted to sell in the tuck shop, to what we wanted to teach other young people through peer education. Each and everyone of us feels a sense of ownership over FGYC as we made it our own.
It would be nothing however without the man that turned it all round Nick Jolly, because of him and FGYC I have achieved so much. A lot more than most people my age can claim. I Have been involved in creating fantastic sexual health workshops & had numerous training to create peer education opportunities for other young people.
At FGYC young people get exactly what they feel they need. It is all about giving them voice that is heard. There should surely be more youth centres like FGYC not less! It is everything it should be and much more and if anyone from the 'decision makers' visited FGYC they would see for themselves what difference FGYC make to young people.
To shut FGYC would be a great loss to young people who currently benefit and for those who will lose out on the chance in the future. Goodbye FGYC......hello lots more young people on the street with nothing to do but get drunk and vandalise.
Carly (ex young person at FGYC)
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To whom it may concern
I am writting to you over the concerns I have about the strong possibility of Frimley Green Youth Centre closing. I attended FGYC for several years, my first contact with the youth centre was when a group of us got together with Youth Worker Nick Jolly to re-open FGYC as I felt that we needed a safe place to hang out instead of the streets drinking, vandalising and being noisy, but I was unaware just how much FGYC was going to change my life and give me so many opportunities.
Being part of FGYC gave me a great sense of achievement and ownership thats why I feel so strongly about saving it from being closed down. We did so many projects that were necessary in a young persons life. We put together a sexual health project which taught young people about safer sex, breast & testicular cancer, STi's, saying no to sex and peer pressure all hopefully helped reduce teenage pregnancys and increase the number of young people having unprotected sex. This project was recognised as one of the best in the country. Also the anti-bullying project has won awards.
There are may different sessions held every night at FGYC. Drop-in where young people can go to chill with their mates, Club Shout for young people with learning difficulties, scooter project - learning about mechanics and many more. I have benefited so much from being involved at FGYC, I have a lot more confidence that has helped me further my career and so many opportunities. I have much more knowledge about sex, drugs, bullying and many more things that a young person should know growing up in the 21st century.
If FGYC does close it will be a great loss in the community and so many opportunities for young people wasted. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it will change your mind about closing FGYC
Gemma (ex young person at FGYC)
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My name is Emma and I am a young person who has attended the Frimley green youth centre. I could write an e-mail a hundred pages long on reasons why you shouldn't shut the youth centre, that's how strongly i believe in not shutting it! i wish i could show you how much the other members and i do not want this to happen, but the only way i can do this is through an e-mail. i just wish there was more we could do, but at the moment we are all just trying to be patient and see what the outcome is.
it is not just me and my group of friends that attend FGYC there are many other young people who have not written an e-mail but they also have gained so much.
i just wish you could see how many oppertunities have happened by me attending. i would never have known about them if i hadn't been to FGYC it has made such a difference to my life, the staff team are so encouraging and supporting of the young people, they have offered SSOOOOOO much to us. with the publicity that young people are getting at the moment in the press it is places like these who show that not all young people are bad, there are us lot at FGYC who do try our best to make a difference in the comunity and if this is taken away from us, who else is going to be left to show that not all young people are bad!!?
i hope somebody takes notice of this e-mail and hopefully it will make a difference. thank you for your time
Emma
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My name is Jamie and I am sixteen years of age I am compelled to write to you with my concerns about the proposed closure of Frimley Green Youth Centre. This youth centre provides an essential service to the community such as the 'drop-in' for children 12-14 whih I help run on a Thursday evening. Here the children have a safe environment where they can socialise with and make new friends. There are organised activities such as basketball, table football, dance mats, pool and computers. At the moment we have 20 regular members who benefit from this organised facility.
From a personal point of view I have been able to contribute voluntarily to this much needed centre. It has given me confidence, which I lack in every day life as a result of extreme anxiety and panic attacks. Consequently it has been difficult for me to cope with school and socialising. Here at the youth centre the trained staff have helped me to personally overcome this. have also learned skills such as working as a team, dealing with money and have also attended a weekend training session on anti-bullying. This has been particularly useful when helping other children deal with similar problems. In my opinion children benefit most from discussing their difficulties with their peers because we understand and share our experiences with each other.
I wish that this service had been available when I was younger because there was nothing for my friends and I to do. I feel strongly that without this youth centre there would be more crime and anti-social behaviour.
Jamie Carter (Young People's Committee member)
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My name is Lolls and I am a member of the FGYC Young People's Committee.
I go to FGYC every Thursday night with my friends to open a drop-in for year 8/9's. In order to open the drop-in I had to do training which has helped me learn skills such as teamwork, to compromise other people's ideas and be more confident.
Running the drop-in helps the year 8/9's to mix with other people both their age and younger and helps them learn other skills like putting other people first and is a great place for them to chill out and have fun.
Frimley Green Youth Centre makes me feel part of something and somewhere to go other than being out on the street and take responsibility for myself and others. If Frimley Green Youth Centre is to shut I would be disappointed because it makes a big difference to me and to others.
The staff team have helped me relax and be confident enough to put my opinions across and make me feel my opinion counts and I feel I can talk to them about personal stuff. Without FGYC being here I would find it difficult talking to others about stuff.
I really look forward to coming to FGYC every Thursday to help others and learn new skills and I now realise that if you bother to put the time into stuff you will get a lot back.
I really enjoyed the training we had for running the drop-in it has brought the group much closer together and we now work better as a team.
I hace really benefited from FGYC and want others to benefit from it too.
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I am writing to tell everyone about frimley green youth centre and to help keep this great place open. Since I have joined I have had so many great experiences and I want to tell over people about them!!
I joined the youth club in October 2005, I came here every Thursday with 4 other people my age, after a few weeks one of our group members left the team, but this didn't break us up and we still managed to work together. Our project was to successfully open a drop-in for younger people in year 8-9. We managed this by doing weekly group work, working together and we even had a holiday away to help us on part of our training. Our holiday was a weekend away to the new forest were we did tasks such as raft building, low ropes and a twilight walk. We learnt that everyone is equal, not to judge a book by a cover and to just have a good time.
Youth club has made a difference to my life in so many ways, I am more confident in myself and talking aloud and in front of people, it makes me feel good about myself and knowing that I've done something good for other people, I've me lots of new people since the drop-in opened, I recently found out that by doing my project I will be receiving a DofE bronze award, I would never have been getting this if I hadn't joined this youth club. Another difference I like is the fact that I have a self sense of achievement but knowing that I would never have managed it by myself. I also like being part of something and knowing I'm involved in a project that is helping other people. I Have also learnt to take responsibility for the things I may have done wrong or to be proud to stick up for what I agree with and stuff I have achieved, I now also have a close group of friends, that I knew before the project but I've become closer to them and can trust them which I would never have had before.
The difference it has made to others is that they know have somewhere to go, instead of them hanging out on the streets and being told off for it, they can come to our drop-in and play pool or hockey and spend time with their friends.If this youth club closes, all that people will ever see in the papers is about young people being a nuisance on the streets and causing trouble, when they are probably doing no harm they would just have no where to go! We aim to make everyone feel welcome and to have a good time with their mates and relax, it also makes them feel art of something because everyone knows each other. They get to mix with new people their own age and make more friends.
The youth leaders who I have worked with for these past months are, Nick, Gemma, Tara, Charlie and Zoe, I have made friends with all of them and I know that if I ever need anyone to talk to, their there for me and others that need help, advice or just a chat. Nick Jolly is great he makes everyone feel welcome and I think he does such a good thing for younger people and shows them that if your in trouble tou don't need to turn to bad things such as drugs because there is always a solution which is safer and easier!
If the youth club closed, I would hate it because I know not only my group, myself and young people would have nowhere to go and would have no one to turn to if we're in trouble. So keep it open!! Please :D
Karen Eggleton FGYC Young People's Committee member