A YOUTH centre has closed its doors for now but is supporting young people online during the coronavirus outbreak.

To protect the public, its service users and staff, Ourside Youth Centre in Evesham has decided to close its doors and suspend all open access youth sessions.

The youth centre is going to offer a presence on social media during the same times of each project for each of the sessions. This will be supported with online youth worker support if young people want to speak about anything they are going through.

Bev Wride, centre manager, said: “As an organisation we had already recognised the rise and very real impact of youth loneliness for young people.

"Now more than ever we are going to need to be available for young people offering, alongside putting activities out there which will hopefully still enable them to feel connected and part of Ourside.”

Ourside is inviting people to start following it on Instagram @oursideyouthcentre for relevant and engaging contact, alongside online support and activities at the following times and days:

Wednesdays, 1pm-2pm Activities with online youth worker support

Wednesdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm Activity suggestions and interactive posts, alongside online youth worker support.

Thursdays, 6.30pm-8.15pm A mix of sports, healthy lifestyle, art sessions alongside online youth worker support.

Carly Elwell, chairman, said: “We feel strongly about our work supporting young people in Evesham and to ensure it continues we were presented with a unique opportunity to go digital.

"We hope this means we are able to reach and support more young people during this time.”