Barns Green Youth Club win community fund

Barns Green Youth Club (BGYC) are over the moon at coming top of Lloyds Bank Community Fund and being awarded the first prize of £3000.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jan 2014, 11:41 BST

Staff from Lloyds Bank were asked to nominate good causes to receive awards. All the applications were reviewed and grouped locally before 4 were shortlisted from each community. The public, customers and employees were invited to cast their vote to decide how the awards should be allocated with the two receiving the most public votes getting £3000 and the other two £300. After a nail biting finale Barns Green Youth Club won by just 11 votes.

BGYC is a weekly run group for young people in Years 7-11 residing in Barns Green and the surrounding area and we have a dedicated Youth Leader and around 25 voluntary support group helpers who give up their time on a regular basis.

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With this ongoing support we have been able to form a youth group “BG15UP” for the youth in Barns Green from the age of 15 upwards, which is also proving very popular. With no evening buses out of the village, both groups play an essential part in the young people’s social life.

Youth Clubs in the Horsham area are being closed down, and as local funding for Youth Groups was withdrawn across West Sussex in 2010, this money will help to keep the Club open for the next few years as we rely solely on donations and on fundraising. This funding is very much appreciated and is invaluable in supporting the youth of Barns Green and the future of the Club.

Two former members of Barns Green Youth Club and who are now members of BG15UP had a personal message.

“Thank you very much for voting for us, it means a lot to us youngsters in Barns Green. It is good to know we have a good community supporting us, thank you. It is great to think that the younger generation will be able to use it just like we did when we were that age.” (Rachel).

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“Thank you so much for voting for us, as a small village club £3000 will be massive and will keep the club going for a few more years.” (Elliot).

Everyone at the Club wishes to say a really big ‘thank you’ to Lloyds Bank and to everyone who voted for them.

Report and picture contributed by Barns Green Youth Club.