WEM Youth club has been given a new lick of paint to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The refurbishment was organised by Friends of Wem Youth Club (FWYC), former club-goers remembering their teenage years and wanting to give something back.

Volunteers furnished the building with an updated sign, fresh fascia boards and newly painted walls, all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club.

FWYC volunteer Kaz Plenty explained how the building had started to look less inviting, necessitating the refurbishment.

"The entrance of the youth club wasn't very inviting, the signs had fallen off," said Kaz. "For parents and for children it makes it more inviting.

"I'd certainly let my child come here now, whereas before it looked so dated."

However there is still plenty of work to be done, with plans in place to build a sheltered area to enable the club to safeguard children against Covid-19 in small groups.

Kaz is hoping for more former members of the youth club to help out or provide materials.

"We’re especially looking for people who were club members in their youth,” Kaz added. “And we are hoping for some astroturf for the ball games”.

Meanwhile, Becca Lewis, club youth worker, spoke of the work that went into refurbishing the building.

"It was a socially distanced effort," she said. "Three members of the same family worked alongside each other and those outside of that bubble were always two metres apart.

"It's been fantastic and the way they worked around those obstacles has been really good.

"Now the outside reflects the great activities going on inside the club”.

Generous donations of money and equipment have made the work possible.

So far from Jewsons of Wem, the Mayors Charity Fund, Mr and Mrs Starkeys, Andy Everett, Robert Owen, Ian Cliff and many others have all donated funds to the youth club.

To donate to the youth club, contact 07741885017 or message the Friends of Wem Youth Club Facebook page for further information.