A group of enthusiastic young people is working towards setting up a youth centre on a 70ft steel boat, currently moored midstream of the Thames between Hampton Wick and Kingston.

Hampton resident, Warren Cox, started a youth centre in Richmond to provide an entertainment venue for teenagers on a Friday night. The youth centre, named Crash, was a Christian outreach, set up to be an alcohol and drugs free venue.

A team of sixteen Crash leaders ensured that the evening entertainment ran smoothly, and at the same time provided an alternative to activities that the kids might regret being involved in. The venue was successfully hosting crowds of up to a hundred kids on a Friday evening and it seemed that Crash was appreciated by the teenagers, who built friendships and sought advice and counsel from the volunteers.

But unfortunately the youth centre had to be closed due to difficulties with the venue, and although there was a frantic search for another building, nothing was available in the area. Crash had to be closed.

It was a frustrating time for the leaders who were having a real impact on the youth community, and a frustrating time for the teenagers who were interested in attending. But the search for a new venue led Warren to the old 70ft steel boat.

Plans include a landscaped garden on the upper deck and in the cabins four themed compartments with games, entertainment, a coffee garden and multimedia technology to help with environmental education, dance and drama, self supported study and life skills.

"It's basically just a hull at the moment and we have only just started to raise funds for what is obviously going to be a huge project, but the plan is to kit it out and then moor it in Richmond," said Warren.

Funding is obviously a big challenge for Crash and and Warren is calling for support from the community to help upgrade the vessel.

"The single most important factor in this endeavour is that Crash would be an environment where teenagers could have fun without the negative influences that they are often surrounded by," he stressed.

For more information about the project and how to support it, see the Crash website.

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

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