Newton Abbot Youth Enquiry Centre opens its doors next week

The new Youth Enquiry Service in Queen Street, Newton Abbot will host its official opening on Wednesday, January 27.

Run by Young Devon, the centre is a partnership project between Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council, Young Devon, Y-Smart, Carr-Gomm, Spectrum Housing Group and other voluntary and statutory agencies.

The official opening will be attended by Devon County Council’s Andrea Davis and Anne Whitely, and the ribbon will be cut by Ian Brady, Deputy Director of the Youth Taskforce. The event will include tours of the building and facilities, and the opportunity to talk to young people involved in the project about its benefits.

The centre will provide general information, advice and guidance for young people aged 13-25, as well as counselling and psychotherapy, sexual health services, housing advice, substance misuse services, care leavers' advice and support, volunteering and community action and employment and training. The building also provides supported housing for young people via a separate entrance..

Tim Tod, Chief Executive of Young Devon, said: "This project is a superb opportunity to see multi-agency services for young people working together on a high street single site.

"The new centre is the result of a partnership between Devon County Council, the third sector, a registered social landlord and a private sector landlord."

The service will initially be open five days a week, with a view to expanding its offer to include group meetings and training events in the evenings and at weekends. It will be staffed by a mix of paid staff and trained volunteers.

Councillor Andrea Davis said: "This new centre will provide a one stop shop of counselling, advice and guidance for young people in the Newton Abbot area. The services bring together key voluntary and public sector partners as well as a highly significant contribution from a private sector landlord, to provide what we hope will be of tangible benefit to some of the most vulnerable young people in the area."

Devon County Councillor for Newton Abbot South, Cllr Gordon Hook, said: "This is a fantastic facility for Newton Abbot and one which I sincerely hope will be well used. Coupled to the introduction of Street Pastors into the town this is a time of optimism and opportunity. I strongly welcome and support these positive developments."