Local volunteers have called on town councillors to better support the young people of Dartmouth.

Two volunteers from Youth Genesis gave a presentation to Dartmouth Town Council about their work with troubled young people in the community, in the hope to secure funding.

Operations manager, Michelle Taylor, stressed the importance of providing a safe space outside of school, and played a video to display their work.

Michelle said the group are working with 80-90 young people in Dartmouth every week, and have 140 “disadvantaged” young people with “very challenging behaviour” on their books.

County Cllr Jonathan Hawkins featured in the video, and in it said he has “thoroughly enjoyed” volunteering with the group.

Of two sessions in Dartmouth, ‘Decks’ sees around 45 young people through its doors in town centre each week, but attendance has suffered since the refurbishment at Ivy Lane forced them to move.

Michelle said: “We’re supporting young people with the most complex of issues. Of the most disadvantaged young people that we work with, we often refer to them as living with issues that we call the ‘toxic three’.

“They could be living in households with domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues. So there is no wonder, really, why they act the way that they do.

“They need us to support them. We already have made a difference, but we need to make more of a difference.”

CEO Jonathan Oliviero submitted a proposal to the council, asking for financial support as well as aims to create a “working relationship”, meaning the council would be investing in its community’s youth.

The proposal will be further discussed in the next general purposes meeting.

Tension has risen in recent months, since police received reports that children as young as 13 were committing crime across town.

Councillors and residents voiced concerns over young people congregating in Royal Avenue Gardens late at night.

County Cllr, Jonathan Hawkins, and District Cllr, Hilary Bastone, will be attending a meeting later in the month with Fusion, who run the leisure centre in Dartmouth.

They plan to recreate a youth night similar to those already in place in Kingsbridge and Totnes.

The full council meeting is available to watch via YouTube below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U4NA5AlBmA