FOUR West Somerset youth clubs are to receive grant aid from Somerset County Council to help keep them open for another year.

Minehead Youth Club, Exmoor Community Youth Club, Dulverton and District Young People’s Project and Williton Youth Club were among the 21 Somerset youth clubs who received a portion of the £58,000 grant money.

Naomi Griffths, director of Minehead Eye, which employs youth workers for Williton Youth Club, which will receive £3,200, and Minehead Youth Club, which will get £3,000, said: “The clubs very much needed the money.

“It will help to keep them both open for another year.

“Youth clubs are vital in such rural areas where transport links aren’t great and they provide great opportunities for young people to meet other young people in the area.

“Minehead Youth Club has around 70 young people and it is very important that these clubs are able to continue, so it is great news about the funding.”

Exmoor Community Youth Club has been awarded £1,500.

Catherine Nicholls, trustee of the club, said: “This is wonderfully supportive. Exmoor is a beautiful place to live in but there’s not much going on in terms of a social life for young people.

“There is no town or city social life so it is vital that these youth clubs remain open.

“The grant, alongside the money raised from all of the fundraising events we hold, will allow us to continue to keep the club open for another year.”

The youth clubs are run by teams of dedicated volunteers.

Cllr Frances Nicholson, cabinet member for children and families, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to support our communities with these grants, which are a “topup” to the funds they have already worked hard to raise locally.

“Many of these projects are heavily reliant on the generosity and dedication of volunteers. “I’d like to thank them for everything they do and I hope the grant funding helps ensure these projects continue benefiting the young people of Somerset in the future.”

Each application was assessed by a grant panel.

For more information about the application process visit somersetyouth.co.uk