Youth project asks for fundraising support

A town's residents are raising money for a new facility to tackle loneliness and support young people's mental health.

Thame Town Council and Thame Youth Projects are working together to build the centre on the Southern Road Recreation Area in the Oxfordshire town.

Project Link has secured more than £5m in funding towards the construction, but a further £360,000 is still needed to make the plans a reality.

Town councillor Paul Cowell, a founding member of the project, said the building is designed to create a "community spirit" and to be a space where local organisations and young people can gather.

Cowell said the town currently lacks a suitable building and said that will become more of a problem as Thame continues to grow, adding that he wants people to "own the space" as well as find the funding for it.

Local organisations, companies and residents are being asked to help fundraise to complete the build.

Thame resident and parent of two teenagers, Lee Humber, is organising the project's first fundraising event, which will see the Town Hall turned into a live music venue, known as The Sound Room on the 5 December.

Humber said local teenagers have become increasingly involved in the fundraising and will be performing at the music event.

As a former teacher and youth worker, Humber said a dedicated community space is a new concept for the town's young people and said he hopes they will help to shape the new facility.