The youth centre that's survived against the odds

Portishead Youth and Community Centre is celebrating its 60th birthday this year, but it so nearly didn't get there.

They had just completed a £1m refurbishment project when devastating news arrived, 15 years ago.

The same night they got the keys back to the building, North Somerset Council told them it was disbanding the youth service. Many feared the centre would not survive.

"It was awful," recalls Kim Jones, the current manager. "It was like the rug was being pulled from under our feet."

Back in October 2011 Kim was a youth worker at the time.

"I had just started out in my career, and was doing a Masters in youth and community work," she said.

"And I remember thinking, 'Are there going to be any jobs by the time I've finished my qualifications?'"

But the management committee refused to give up.

Instead, they set up a limited company and took on responsibility for keeping the centre running themselves.

"We had to learn everything about running a business pretty much from nothing," said Kim.

Today the centre employs 35 people, from full-time staff to workers who help with children's parties at weekends.

Its impact can be seen in the families and young people who use it

Robyn, 11, is a regular visitor.

Her three-year-old sister Kara is autistic and non-verbal, and their family has relied on support from the centre over several years.

"It's been a really good support for us over the years, and has really helped us as a family," Robyn said.

"It is a lot of work to have a sister with SEN, and I do have to help her a lot with her language and speech. The responsibility is quite huge."

The centre runs sessions for babies, pre-school children, young people and older residents.

Among them is Story and Bake, where families combine storytelling with making food together.

Amanda Gallagher, who co-ordinates the pre-school and seniors' activities, came up with the idea.

She said funding from BBC Children in Need helps make many of the sessions possible.

"By the time you've paid the ingredients and you've cooked the food and taken into account staffing costs, you couldn't charge the families that sort of money," she said.

"The money from Children in Need helps to keep things affordable for people."

Josh Hill is another of the youth centre's success stories.

He has learning difficulties, and started coming to the centre's Friday Fun sessions for young people with additional needs.

Now he has his first paid job as a cleaner at the centre and is trusted with locking up the building.

"It's like a second family to me," he said. "Everyone's really friendly here, and I make new friends."

For Kim, stories like Josh's and Robyn's are proof of what has been achieved since the centre's future was thrown into doubt 15 years ago.

What looked like the end when funding was withdrawn became the start of a new chapter.

Against the odds, the youth centre survived and continues to support generations of local people.

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