News Release Chard TC Youth Provision Progress 22 07 2025

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NEWS RELEASE
Date: 22nd July 2025

Youth Provision Services In Chard
At an Extraordinary Meeting of the Town Council last Friday, the Councillors unanimously backed
all of the recommendations that were put to them and are now keen to see this project move into
the next stage.

Chard Town Council Chief Executive & Town Clerk, David Bell, has announced that significant
progress has been made towards securing youth provision services in Chard. He said, “This project
is for not only our young people now but also the heart of our community where support is needed
in years to come for future generations of young people”.

With Councillors receiving updates from the Youth Provision Steering Group (comprising
interested agencies, organisations and volunteers in partnership) the last couple of months have
been spent talking to young people, providers, groups, schools, churches and other members of
the community to gain a good understanding of what youth services may be available or needed.

Councillor Jason Baker, Chair of the Steering Group said, “It is a privilege to spend time talking to
so many people who share the same goal as the Town Council, which is to provide the youth of
Chard with the best and most inclusive services that we can” He went on to say, “I believe that
every young person should have the opportunity to thrive and have support available when
needed”.

Part of the Town Council strategy is to take a short-term lease of the Youth Centre building which,
would be operated by a Community Interest Company as both a base for the youth provision and
as a community asset for wider use. The Town Council, as part of the partnership, is now looking
for support with this and is keen to speak to anyone who would be interested in volunteering to
be a trustee, director or volunteer of this new and exciting proposed service. If you feel you could
give some time to help, please contact Cllr Baker or David via email on youth@chard.gov.uk or by
telephone (01460 239567) at the Guildhall. We will be progressing this new undertaking over the
summer holidays with a target date for the building of mid-August.

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Both the Steering Group and the Town Council would like to extend gratitude and thanks to
everyone at Chard Area Youth Committee for all of their hard work over the many years and for
their continued support and guidance in this transition period.

Ends

David Bell
Chief Executive & Town Clerk
Chard Town Council
The Guildhall
Fore Street
Chard
TA20 1PP

david.bell@chard.gov.uk
01460 239567

Note for Editors
Further discussions can be held with Councillor Jason Baker on 07736 310805 or David Bell on
07836 201888.

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