Young people attending Pilton Youth Club

A popular youth club serving a rural community in Mendip has achieved Somerset County Council’s ‘Safe and Welcoming’ award.

Pilton Youth Club offers young people from Pilton and the surrounding area a safe and relaxed environment to socialise and unwind in with their friends.  The club offers a range of activities and opportunities such as sports, music, cooking, games and group discussions.

The youth club is supported by grant funding Somerset County Council’s Youth and Community Service.

The ‘Safe and Welcoming’ benchmark scheme accredits the club’s safe practice and appeal to young people. The club was required to build a portfolio containing witness statements, policies, health and safety practice and building safety details in order to obtain the award.

Councillor Frances Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Somerset County Council, said: “It is reassuring for parents and carers to know that their local youth club is safe, sustainable and welcoming.

“This is a valued facility in a rural community offering young people a much-needed space to socialise.

“Once a youth club has gained this award, it becomes instantly recognisable to young people and their families as a great resource for their community.”

Naomi Wilson, Youth Club leader, said: “Pilton Youth Club is very proud to have achieved the Safe and Welcoming award, thank you to committee members that have worked hard throughout the year to ensure that Pilton Youth Club can continue to support the children in the local community”

The Benchmark is an established scheme which has been available for youth clubs in Somerset for over four years.  The awards are valid for three years and are a condition of Somerset County Council youth club funding.

The award is split into a sections looking at what young people can expect to experience at the club, the people who contribute to or work in the club, and policies, procedures and paperwork.

There are currently 48 youth clubs in Somerset which hold the Safe and Welcoming Benchmark.