St Gregory’s Youth and Community Centre is a local charity which seeks to give support to children and families in the Netherley area. Sharon and her staff offer activities, on a daily basis, starting with the breakfast club for the primary school children; mother and toddler groups; after school activities for 7-12 year olds; and the youth club in the evenings with young people over the age of 12.
The Vincentian Volunteers live in a house, in this socially deprived area, near to the Centre. As they are part of the parish they are all involved in this project but only on a part time basis. One volunteer works two full days a week and the others offer help with the breakfast club and with some of the afternoon activities.
At the breakfast club the children are given a healthy breakfast, have time to play, and then the staff and volunteers walk them over to school. The Volunteers try to cover, between them, the five mornings of the week. The first “after school” club begins around 3.30 for two hours and the volunteers work with other staff to provide games, drama and sports for the 7-12 year olds. The youth club from 7 to 9.30pm is for the over 12yrs who might want to learn the computer, or the guitar, or play football. If the volunteer has a particular talent this can be used with the children. The Centre has recently acquired a mini-bus, so the children can go off on day or weekend visits. The aim of the Centre is to widen the horizons of these children, and give them confidence and a sense of well being.