A YOUTH club in Highbridge has officially reopened despite previously facing closure.

It was revealed earlier this year the the Zone Youth Club on Cassis Close would soon be forced to close after running successfully for several years.

However, a local mental health charity known as In Charley's Memory soon stepped in and offered to take over the club to keep it open.

The charity aims to raise awareness about mental health support for young people and encourage them to seek help when it is needed, offering one-to-one counselling services that are not limited to time, but instead are tailored to what the young person needs, whist remaining affordable.

The Zone Youth Club officially reopened on Tuesday, July 16. In Charley's Memory CEO, Dawn, said: "I'm so excited to reopen the club, it just made so much sense.

"Not every young person needs counselling. Some young people just need support.

"They need to offload to someone older than them, just to be able to let off steam.

"We have 60 kids registered to come to the youth club – if that’s not the children in Burnham and Highbridge telling us how much they need this youth club, then I don’t know what is.

"The only difference is the youth club is actually going to be run by some of our counsellors, so if any of our kids do want to have a chat with somebody then there is someone on site that will be able to support them.”

(Image: Doug Plume)

Speaking on the grand reopening, charity COO, Jamie, added: "It was a great success with lots of time spent socialising, playing cricket and football and eating plenty from the tuck shop!

"We are looking forward to a summer of getting to know our young people and to start to introduce some activities and themes to the sessions.

"It was hard work getting it all ready to relaunch, but we are so glad we decided to bring it under the ICM umbrella, it's definitely a great place to let off steam and make new friends and we are looking forward to building a positive group together.

"The group is predominantly attended by children aged 11-13 and we are keen to support the transition between primary and secondary schools and encouraging the older ones to become positive role models and influences for their younger peers.

"We've got tons of ideas of how we can harness the potential of The Zone and the kids that attend, so watch this space!"