FUNDING totalling £10,000 has been agreed by the town council to support two youth organisations in Haslemere – but both will still struggle.

Haslemere Youth Hub and A Place to Be youth club, which meets at the hub, will each get £5,000 in the next financial year.

Thanking members for their support at January 23 full council meeting, A Place to Be chairman Caroline Southerden said youth club members were enjoying the “amazing renovated” hub, but more funding was vital if the service was to continue.

The club has around 120 members aged 11 to 14 and holds an activities session every Friday during term time for young people, a third of whom come from low income families or have learning difficulties.

Usually around 40 attend for a minimal entry fee of £2, but the club needs more volunteer helpers to help its three staff members.

Caroline said: “It’s a struggle week to week to cover the costs of the activities we provide. Some families can’t afford the entry fee so we let them in free.

“We reach out to those who desperately need this resource.” Hub trustee Alison Rose said Haslemere Youth Hub was also struggling, because it had to raise £21,000 in rent for Waverley Borough Council each year.

The meeting heard the hub charges its youth services users rent to help cover costs. However, as it was increasingly difficult to make ends meet, it might have to start charging A Place to Be rent, after formerly allowing it to use the premisese free of charge.

Responding, Haslemere Mayor John Robini, who also chaired the meeting, said: “We will arrange a meeting with hub trustees to look at what can be done to iron this out.”