A major new project to tackle the long-standing lack of youth service provision in Kelso was officially launched on Saturday.
Kelso Youth Project, which has been set up by the Cheviot Youth organisation with financial support from Scottish Borders Council, will see a number of evening drop-in sessions and after-school clubs throughout the year at the town’s Ace Centre.
These will be built around an integrated programme of art, film, music, sport and well-being activities staffed by qualified youth workers, sessional workers and volunteers.
For over a year, youth service providers worked to discover exactly what young people wanted in terms of service provision, culminating in more than 30 young people attending a youth summit in Kelso.
Local councillors Tom Weatherston and Simon Mountford attended the launch to show support, along with Conservative MSP John Lamont.
Mr Weatherston praised the hard work of the Cheviot Youth board and staff, together with SBC, which secured the funding needed.
“The joint working we see happening in Kelso between young people, volunteers, the staff of Cheviot Youth and SBC’s community learning and development team is an example of good practice fast becoming the way we do things in the Borders, and an example to the whole of the Scotland,” he said.