Charity Feature - Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, March 4, 2021 33

NEWBURY NEWS ADVERTISEMENT F TAURE

Newbury Weekly News

Be a pat rof theoRyal British Legion Nwebuyr Community

BERKSHIRE Youth is a local charity which has been committed to improving the lives and experiences of local young people for 80 years. The charity works across the county to support, empower and inspire more than 12,000 young people each year through a range of projects and activities. Berkshire Youth has continued to help local young people throughout the pandemic with its Berkshire Youth Hubs (www.wbyh.co.uk), a support platform to link young people, families and youth workers with information and links to support, as well as access to Berkshire Youth’s youth workers and volunteering opportunities. Their detached youth workers are familiar faces in Newbury as they build relationships with young people where they ‘hang out’ and encourage them into local youth activities. They also work closely with local schools to provide mentoring and preventative education for young people, helping with early identification of those of at risk Looking after young people

THE Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 to look after the needs of the service personnel and their dependants coming home after the First World War, and is still doing the same work now nearly one hundred years on from its beginning. As conflicts continue throughout the world, Newbury RBL encompasses two areas, the branches and the club, and although operating under different rules both work together for the same end product, specifically the welfare of their members. The RBL Newbury Branch and Women’s Section form the welfare arm looking after the needs of the serving and ex-service community and their dependants. This can be mobility needs, assistance with travel to hospital appointments, white goods in homes and many other areas of help. It’s a big misconception that you have to be a member of the Royal British Legion to benefit from their services, all you need to be is currently serving, ex-service or a dependent

for members as well as helping to raise money to assist the welfare team in their work. When running as normal, the club has a varied list of events including twice weekly bingo, a Friday night sing along and meat raffle, dart teams, snooker and pool, Sunday quiz, Sunday lunch, Lunch Bunch one Saturday a month, and a variety of Saturday evening entertainment. The club has a large hall and a smaller suite able to host weddings, social gatherings and meetings, and can cater from a finger buffet to a silver service dinner. If you wish to contact the club about future events or hall reservations please ring David Dunk, club chairman, on 07555 364775 or email rblnewburyclubchairman@ gmail.com If you wish to find out more information about the Newbury RBL Branch and Women’s Section and what they do for the community please contact Keith Williams, branch secretary, on 07785 701721 or email rblnewburybranchsecretary@ gmail.com

from gangs, drugs and knife crime. Despite the uncertain times, Berkshire Youth has been determined to push ahead with ambitious £1.5m plans to renovate the Waterside Centre in Newbury. Opening later this year, the Waterside will be an incredible state-of-the-art youth and community centre in the heart of the town. It will be a flagship youth and community centre for West Berkshire, offering excellent facilities (including a dance studio, hall and water-based activities), a programme of activities, a safe space and support for local young people. The Waterside promises to be a hugely positive addition to the lives of local people and a sign of The newly renovateadteWrside Centre, Newy bur

hope for the future. The new centre is intended to lift young people’s aspirations, boost their self-esteem and inspire them to realise their potential. Berkshire Youth expects that hundreds of local young people will benefit from the centre, which will provide a popular meeting place and support network. The charity believes that, especially at the current time, it’s important for young people to know that they are valued and important and that we are all including how you can support the exciting Waterside project, please visit www.berkshireyouth.co.uk or email admin@berkshireyouth.co.uk invested in their futures. For further information,

of someone who is. All welfare work is strictly confidential and their community support officer David Glover can be contacted by phone on 07967 775182 or email at davey.glover9@btinternet.com The RBL Club forms the social arm, organising various events Legion was formed in 1921 to look after the needs of the sveicre personnel and their dependants “ The Royal British

Supporting, empowering and inspiring young people

We help local young people as they transition from childhood to young adulthood Many of the young people we work with are vulnerable or disadvantaged and unable to access help elsewhere. Visit our website to

find out more and get involved: berkshireyouth.co.uk admin@berkshireyouth.co.uk 0118 909 0927

Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street, Reading RG1 4RJ Registered charity number 1106341