A ‘LIFELINE’ youth club which has been helping kids for the last 30 years is appealing for support after it was revealed it may be forced to close its doors due to money woes.
Sara Greenfield is club manager for the Dearne Kids’ Outdoor Activity Group in Thurnscoe, a club she once attended when she was a child.
Despite her struggles with fibromyalgia - a medical syndrome that causes chronic widespread pain and fatigue - and sciatica in her back, which leave her having to occasionally use a wheelchair and with difficulty walking, she is always putting others first.
The club is open at Houghton Road Community Centre twice a week - on Mondays and Thursdays.
The monthly rent the group pay is £280 - but Sara says they currently only have another six weeks’ worth of rent in their coffers.
She told the Chronicle: “The cost of living is hurting everybody.
“Our fundraising efforts, no matter how hard we try, are seeing a massive decline.
“On a really good day we used to be able to raise £500 but now we’re lucky if we’re able to reach just £200.
“The room that we rent is £280 but we only have enough money for the next one-and-a-half months.
“We just can’t make the money stretch far enough.
“We’re not miracle workers.
“We’re all putting in 100 per cent in to everything that we’re doing but it’s just not enough.”
Sara attended the group when she was younger and took over seven months ago - but she says it’s been a difficult time.
“We provide a safe, welcoming space for children aged six and above,” she added.
“We’re helping keep people off the streets and giving them somewhere positive to go.
“We’re ran by a small team of dedicated volunteers and it’s not just kids we help - we also have a warm space.
“It’s been going on and off for the last 30 years.
“It’s a lifeline for so many people.
“But as a group, we feel that we’re on our own without any real support.”
Sara is subsequently asking local businesses and people to help the group continue - as there’s real worries it could cease to exist in the near future.
She said: “We’re a well-known group.
“We’re a good, old-fashioned youth club.
“There’s no electronics here at all.
“We’re appealing for any local people or businesses to help us.
“Without support, we may be forced to close - which would mean local children losing one of the very few activities available to them in the area.
“It’s just getting harder and harder to keep going.
“But we’re not going to give up without a fight.”
