By Olivia Condous
A community group that supports youth in Melton is calling out to residents for some extra support, after a tough couple of years.
The Gap on Graham are a not-for-profit group that have worked to support Melton youth for the last 23 years, providing them with a welcoming place to keep entertained, learn new skills and socialise.
Bob and Val Turner first started the initiative as a Street Surfer bus, after witnessing how many local children were spending time on the streets and in car parks out.
“We used to take out every Friday night and have a barbecue for the kids and it was just awesome… we’d get like 120 kids on a Friday night,” Ms Turner said.
“It showed how many kids were just hanging out there on the streets, needing something to do, because not all kids have families that can afford to have them go into sports and all the rest of it,” she said.
Since then, The Gap has found a home on Graham Street as a youth centre and boxing gym, welcoming young people two nights a week.
The centre hosts a drop-in night for those aged between 12 to 25 on Fridays where young people can enjoy table tennis, pool, basketball and computer games, as well as a girls night for those aged 10 to 18 on Wednesdays.
The Gap is supported by local community groups, but after two years of being unable to fundraise it’s becoming difficult to keep the centre open.
The group will run several fundraising markets in the coming months on September 10, October 8, November 12 from 10am, and always welcome new volunteers.
Ms Turner said providing a place for young people to feel heard made so much difference.
“It doesn’t take a lot to help it… even just sitting and listening to them, sometimes that’s all they need.”
