RESIDENTS in north Oxford are campaigning to save a youth club after its funding was cut and rent raised.

One parent is hoping to fundraise £100,000 towards supporting Wolvercote Young People’s club, which has been running for nearly 80 years.

Councillors and the local MP are backing moves to help the St Peter’s Road club continue to provide services to young people.

Sasha East, the club’s youth and community development manager, said: “We desperately need to bring in new funding as costs go up and the pressures of running a small youth club continue to rise.

“Without the club many young people would have nowhere they can go. Youth workers find that young people often ask for support and guidance with issues that they are facing in their lives at school, with family or friends et cetera.”

Following the success of the first HOWL festival, which raised more than £1,000 this weekend, she continued: “We are extremely grateful for the support that we have received from our local community both in HOWL [and] those that contribute to our regular donors scheme or volunteer.”

Wolvercote local Lara Fairylove, who has a son and two godchildren who attend the club, has set up a crowdfunding page to keep it open every day and aims to eventually pay all of the club’s overheads for a year.

Donations to her appeal, which is aiming to raise £100,000, will go to an organisation supporting the club called ‘Mission Young People’ – rather than direct to the club – and used to rent rooms for events.

She said: “Rather than merely providing warmth, shelter or access to space or activities, a young people’s centre can orientate, engage, educate and inspire young people in our community, creating a higher vibration of community consciousness and shared purpose that can lead to increased wellbeing, higher quality of life and ultimately social cohesion.”

The club itself is continually fundraising and currently provides five different sessions across the week for young people, mostly from Wolvercote and Cutteslowe.

City councillor for Wolvercote Stephen Goddard has been a prominent supporter.

He said: “I know what a good service the young people’s club has provided for years. We are trying to support them in all the ways we possibly can.

“This facility is important because it provides people with activities and convinces people that there is good in the community.”

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran added: “I met with staff, trustees and young people who use the club earlier in the year, where I saw the outstanding work it does in our community.

“Any and all donations are hugely appreciated and will make a huge difference, but the fact is that the club shouldn’t have to be raising funds to keep these community youth services going.

“The decimation of youth services because of funding cuts by many councils and the government over the last few years must be reversed.”

A club representative said that donations directly to the club can be made by cheque or online at mydonate.bt.com/charities/wolvercoteyoungpeoplesclub

To donate to Mission Young People’s campaign, visit justgiving.com and search.