The Hayling’s BEST Community Youth Centre Project
A new vision for the future of the young people of Hayling Island! Part of the nation-wide ‘Action for Market Towns’ group the volunteer run Hayling’s BEST Market Town Initiative, organisers of community events such as the Island’s hugely successful ‘Scarecrow Festival’, the ‘Discover Hayling’ local history project, and the ‘Playing on the Plaza’ series of seaside live music events, have now embarked on their first ever ‘bricks and mortar’ project. Aimed squarely at the ‘Social’ element of the group’s B-E-S-T ‘Business’, ‘Environment’, ‘Social’ and ‘Transport’ remit, the group proposes to address the Island’s present shortage of facilities for young people in the 0-20 age group, through the creation of a dedicated Community Youth Centre. A facility specifically targeted to meet their growing needs, and create a safe social environment for the enjoyment a variety of positive and constructive activities, that currently entail a long and expensive journey
off the Island. Preliminary discussions with local groups and organisations as diverse as the Children’s Centre, Extended Services Forum, Local Schools, Church Groups, the Hayling Youth Council, Police and Community Support Officers, Community Board and the Hayling Island Residents Association, as well as officers and elected representatives of both Havant Borough and Hampshire County councils, have met with a warm and supportive response and broadly acknowledge the need for such a centre.

Hayling’s BEST are currently putting together a dedicated team of volunteers to drive forward and develop this exciding new Community Project. A team well versed in the expertise of fund raising, marketing, planning, publicity, negotiating and project management, as well as those with the necessary ‘people skills’ to work with the youth of Hayling once the proposed centre opens its doors to the public. If you would like to see a better deal for the young people of Hayling as
we approach the second decade of the 21st century, would like to hear more about this ambitious and exciting plan, and maybe even play your own personal part in bringing it to fruition, please contact Project Coordinator  Dale Norman at dalealive@btinternet.com