Join the Beacon Blitz!

Come and join a decorating blitz of Exeter’s exciting new community centre - The Beacon.

Volunteers are spending four days next month transforming the former youth centre into a welcoming space for all ages. We’re calling it The Beacon Blitz – you can sign up for just four hours or more on September 18/ 19 and 25/26.

“We’d love people to come along and help spruce the place up and make it more welcoming,” said Richard Cummings, centre manager. “Previously the building, called The Knight Club was a youth centre but now we want to open it to everyone and create a community centre for Beacon Heath.”

“We want The Beacon to be a centre of opportunity, support and fun, a centre for all ages and which strengthens the community.”

After Devon County Council closed the youth services at the Knight Club it handed the building over to Isca Church which set up a separate entity, Isca Community Enterprises to own and run the premises and ensure youth services continued. The centre is the first in the city to be successfully taken over.

Isca Church, which meets at St James School in Beacon Heath, is well known for its community work in the area. Already since The Beacon opened in May more than 80 young people have been coming along to two weekly youth sessions, The Living Room and The Hub where they play games, chat and enjoy smoothies and toasties in a safe, relaxed space.

Recently a popular toddler group started meeting in the new centre and from October there will be yoga, an older people’s club and specialist youth mentoring.

Hear from the community

Richard said: “We’re really keen to hear from the community about what they want to see happen and we’d welcome offers to volunteer as well. The first stage of re-developing the centre is to see the interior transformed to be a welcoming venue for all.

“We’d love for people from the local community to come and work together to help improve the building and benefit the community.”

The Beacon is looking for 40 volunteers to offer just four hours each. All the materials will be provided. If you’d like to help please contact Richard: richard@iscachurch.org.uk or call 01392 462557.