Emma KnightsYoungsters in Dereham are calling for people to help them fund a new town centre youth venue.Dereham's Action for Children group is working with Dereham Baptist Church to set up a new place for young people to meet in the town.Emma Knights

Youngsters in Dereham are calling for people to help them fund a new town centre youth venue.

Dereham's Action for Children group is working with Dereham Baptist Church to set up a new place for young people to meet in the town.

They would like to create an alcohol and drug-free centre for 12 to 18-year-olds similar to the Open venue in Norwich.

The centre could be a place where young people could visit after school and also go to on Friday and Saturday evenings.

It could offer courses on debt management and life skills as well as being somewhere for teenagers to relax and socialise.

During school time the venue may be used by other groups in the community.

One place is already being considered for the youth venue and it is estimated that about �50,000 would be needed to set up the venue.

Annasthasia Moore, 18, said: 'Having a youth venue is really important because we need somewhere for young people to go so that they are not hanging around the streets.'

Ally Brown, 17, said they were planning to visit Northgate and Neatherd High Schools in Dereham to speak to pupils about the new venue.

'We already have some ideas like having mobile phone chargers available, the internet and laptops to use, a chill out zone and a PlayStation, but we would like the views of more young people,' she said.

The youth venue fund already has about �2,500 from gifts and grants, and on Saturday members of Action For Children and Dereham Baptist Church will be washing cars in return for a donation to the youth drop-in-centre fund.

They will be washing cars in the drive of Dereham Baptist Church, in the High Street, from 2pm until 5pm.

t Anybody who would like to make a donation to the youth venue project or help with fundraising should contact Andrew Frere-Smith on 07929 925911.