A YOUTH charity based in West Oxfordshire is looking for funding to continue its work in the New Year, following the success of its pilot project.

Got2B has been working with the The Coffee Shed in Witney to bring young people together and talk about issues in their lives that are affecting them.

Julie Edwards, 40, and Marion Harley, 53, are youth workers and set up Got2B earlier this year.

The pair have been meeting young people on Wednesday evenings at the cafe since the end of October.

They believe a lack of youth workers is an issue and are hoping to establish a youth service in both Witney and Carterton, by applying for funding from the two town councils.

Both towns have suffered with the youth centre issues in recent years.

Base 33 in Witney closed in December 2017, whilst the Allandale Centre in Carterton was rescued from closure in 2012.

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Ms Harley said: “So far we’ve seen almost 100 young people which is pretty amazing really.

“We’ve talked about drugs and alcohol, personal safety, safe social media use, schools, home life and sexual health awareness, with the sessions shaped by the young people themselves.

“The kids just want to discuss these things in an open environment and not be judged.

“Unfortunately there’s a whole generation of young people and parents who don’t know what youth work is.”

The pair behind Got2B studied together at Ruskin College in Oxford.

The Coffee Shed is particularly pleased with the work that has been going on.

In the summer, the cafe was broken into on three occasions with the shop victim of vandalism.

Saphron Driskell, who has been assistant manager at The Coffee Shed since it opened in June 2015, said: “In the last year we lost rapport with the kids and had to ban them as they were climbing on the roof every night.

“Through this though we’ve been able to build that relationship back up.

“We’ve built up a good rapport with the kids and it’s a nice place for the kids to come in the evening rather than the skate park in the freezing cold.

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“It’s been good to be involved in the work that’s been going on.

“The hope is that it will carry on in the new year but as the year goes on they’ll need to find somewhere else as we’ll be getting busier and staying open later.”

The pair at Got2B have worked closely with Labour councillor Laura Price from Oxfordshire County Council, who has helped with the initial eight week funding.

She said: “The council is looking to develop youth opportunities and we’re keen to get something up and running.

“We’re looking to engage young people and build those positive relationships that have been lacking.

“The Coffee Shed has been so supportive, we created a positive environment where youth workers are interested in young people’s lives.”

Got2B is waiting for confirmation of funding from both Oxfordshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner as it steps up its plans to run full time youth services in both Witney and Carterton.