The Beacon Youth Centre in Brighton is calling on residents interested in volunteering with hopes of helping more local kids. /Sarah Hyatt
Last year, thousands of local kids walked through the doors at the Beacon Youth Centre in Brighton.
And the volunteer-powered centre wants to help more youth – but the Beacon needs help to do just this, says long-time volunteer Chuck Acker, who also sits on the board of directors out of the Cobourg location for Youth Unlimited Northumberland, which the Beacon comes under.
During lunch visits alone at the Brighton centre last year, Acker says there were some 5,300 youth visits.
Then, the kids simply skip back to school.
Meanwhile, overall annual youth visits exceeded 6,100.
And yet, volunteers acknowledge there’s room to help more youth, but say they need volunteer support to expand, especially at lunchtime.
And while helping kids with free meals is a big part of volunteers’ efforts, it’s not all the centre does.
Helping kids with clothing such as coats is just another example of ways that the centre aims to help in the community, explains Acker, noting, again, no questions are asked.
The centre is currently open at lunchtime Tuesday to Friday, and offers various programs as well on Monday evening, Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday evening, says Acker.
For example, sometimes someone from the library comes over to help the kids with crafts, notes Acker.
Youth can also drop in if simply seeking a safe space or for activities and games like pool, chess, and more, say volunteers.
The centre also reportedly tries to help by providing space in the community – i.e. Salvation Army sets up Thursday afternoons at the Beacon, offering a chance to connect with their services.
Rene Schmidt is another long-time volunteer and former director of the centre.
Schmidt tells us volunteers’ efforts, in particular around helping to tackle food insecurity, can be a real lifeline.
“That’s happened more often than we can count,” adds Schmidt, while explaining a bit more on how the centre helps youth.
“We’ve had a number of kids from troubled backgrounds, and they come here and there’s a sense of calmness and a sense of peace that we can bring, and Dalia (Tifour, the current director) is really, really good at identifying where the needs are and connecting kids with people or services in the neighbourhood,” continues Schmidt.
Anyone interested in lending a helping hand is encouraged to swing by the centre, which is located at 10 Alice St., Unit 5.
While online Youth Unlimited is described as a chartered member of Youth for Christ Canada, an international, non-denominational Christian ministry, volunteers insist all denominations are welcome and there are no obligations whatsoever.
Acker says the centre is entirely run on volunteers and relies heavily on grant and donation support to sustain services.
Area first-responders often also visit the centre to connect with youth.
Northumberland OPP Const. James Clarke says police support the Beacon as a safe space offering supports and shelter for youth in the community, adding the centre also creates space for youth to make positive choices.
“Northumberland OPP will always promote and support any initiative (that) prevent youths from making anti-social-behaviour decisions and for future crime prevention,” says Clarke.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
