A CLUB for young adults has officially opened.
The club for 18 to 25 year olds at Vange Community Centre, Vange Hill Drive, Basildon, will meet every Tuesday evening.
Youth worker Ann-Marie Doyle explained the club was for "young-minded" adults, who are too old for the existing youth club which caters for 13 to 18 year olds.
If the pilot scheme is successful, organisers hope to roll it out across other parts of Basildon.
Mrs Doyle said: "We found lots of people were too old to join in the original youth club, but had nothing to do, so ended up hanging around on the streets outside.
"Now they will have somewhere to chill out.
"They can try out the record decks we have here, play pool, or use the air hockey table.
"We will be doing some mentoring too. They might have had a bad time at school and been left without much in the way of qualifications.
"A lot of older teenagers end up without a job and loitering on the street.
"We will hopefully be able to steer some of them away from trouble and into jobs."
The new group was funded by a £1,500 grant from Circle Anglia Housing and £500 from the police.
The pilot scheme will run until May 6.
The group for 18 to 25 year olds will meet on Tuesdays, from 7pm to 9pm. The 13 to 18 year olds also meet at Vange Community Centre, from 5.30pm to 9pm on Thursdays.
To find out more about either group call 07717 646923.
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