TOWN councillors in Minehead have agreed to support a project developing health and wellbeing services for youngsters up to the age of 18 years with a £13,000 grant if it is needed.

They are partnering with Minehead EYE and the West Somerset Primary Care Network’s Living Better project in a bid to enhance existing youth service provision in the community.

They want to apply for £35,000 from Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC), which supports parishes in delivering community health and wellbeing projects.

Town clerk Ben Parker said a dedicated young people’s health coach had been working out of Minehead EYE for the past six months who had shown there was a significant need in the community.

Mr Parker said funding was being sought to keep the project running for the next two years to give it time to develop longer-term sustainability, with more than 1,000 young people expected to be reached in the first 12 months.

The plan was to apply to SALC for a £35,000 grant in year one, and to then raise £41,000 from partners in year two, including the town council’s £13,000 contribution.

Mr Parker said: “This project combines universal youth services, clubs, events, outreach, with targeted mental and emotional health support, creating an integrated system of care for young people in Minehead.

“Having already received verbal support from the Minehead and Watchet Local Community Network group, there is potential to further develop and expand the project to receive financial support from multiple parishes and towns.”

Minehead Town Council's offices in Summerland Road.
Town councillors are supporting a youth health and wellbeing project with Minehead EYE. (Tindle News)

Mr Parker said the need for the project was evidenced by West Somerset being ranked the lowest district in the country for social mobility, and coastal communities facing higher mental health challenges.

There had been a 25 per cent increase in wellbeing support demand over the past three years and the successful six-month pilot had demonstrated the need for, and effectiveness of, the work.

Mr Parker said: “The project, if approved, would introduce an early intervention service for local children that currently does not exist within the NHS framework.

“By addressing potential support needs at an earlier stage, it would aim to provide a proactive approach to young people's wellbeing and developmental support.

“The town council recognises the significant potential of this project to fill a critical gap in local youth services, offering a targeted intervention that could make a meaningful difference to children and families in Minehead.”

Minehead EYE, which is in Mart Road, is home to a popular indoor skatepark, cafe, media lab, music rooms, rehearsal space, and bouldering climbing cave.

It runs courses, events, and sessions for the whole community from climbing and parkour clubs to toddlers’ art and crafts and ‘everything in between’.

The centre has also been running six local youth clubs after they were hit by local authority funding cuts.

In the upcoming school Easter holidays it will be putting on events such as a roller disco, Nerf battles, skateboarding taster sessions, and supervised activities with hot lunches for children in school years three and above.