FAZE (Faringdon Youth and Community Centre)
is under new management!
Faringdon Town Council is proud to have taken over the employment of staff and a 2 year lease on the premises, to ensure the continued success of FAZE going forward. The day to day management of the Centre will be undertaken by a Management Committee, comprising of nine Directors drawn from local Councils, local organisations, a private benefactor and persons with experience in delivering youth services. The Management Committee is incorporated and is in the process of seeking charitable status.
The newly renovated Youth Centre was opened in July 2010 and currently operates sessions on two evenings per week for 13 -19 yr olds – it is hoped to extend this to 11 and 12 year olds. A further session operates once a week for young people with disabilities, called Triple AAA and this will be enhanced with the help and support of Faringdon Rotary Club. The aim is to provide a centre for young people and the wider community, a fantastic new venue for many different community groups such as Scouts and an Older Peoples lunch club/day centre.
FAZE offers regular youth club sessions and promotes informal social education which aims to reduce and prevent antisocial behaviour and levels of social exclusion, with young people feeling they have
nowhere they can call their own space. FAZE staff are working hard to engage the hardest to reach young people, whilst providing a service that attracts young people from a variety of backgrounds. FAZE not only provides young people with a safe place to have fun, but also trained youth workers are on hand to help young people cope with all kinds of issues, from alcoholism in families to eating disorders. FAZE also provides a vital link for young people to access further support from other agencies such as health, educational and employment services if needed. FAZE encourages participation of young people in decision making processes, such as becoming part of FAZE’s Youth Forum.
It is for the very reasons set out above that the Town Council believed this vital facility was too important to lose. We are now commencing negotiations with Oxfordshire County Council to purchase the premises, thereby ensuring the security of the facility for future generations of Faringdon’s young people.
For details of FAZE sessions please contact Susan on 07766421975
