Town of Amherst

Youth centre a step closer to reality

Establishing a youth centre in the Town of Amherst took a step forward during a special session of the Amherst town council on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Council approved a memorandum of understanding between the town and Maggie’s Place that will see the town provide $135,000 in one-time, non-renewable, seed funding to Maggie’s Place for the sole purpose of establishing a “physical facility for a youth development centre.”

“For many years, Maggie’s Place and several other organizations have identified the need to have a youth centre in town that would help address the social, emotional, mental and physical needs of our youth,” Mayor David Kogon said following the meeting.

“The town council believes a youth centre will have a positive impact on the well-being and healthy development of the youth who participate in the programs and services that will be offered at the youth centre.

“We also believe a youth centre will help those youth affected by poverty break the poverty cycle. Helping break the poverty cycle is one of the priorities of the Town of Amherst.” 

Under the terms of the agreement, the town will provide the seed funding in four annual installments. The funding will come from the town’s community support and poverty operating reserves.

Maggie’s Place has agreed to use the seed funding to secure an appropriate place for the youth centre and to be solely responsible for developing and delivering all the

programs and services, such as counselling, offered at the centre. In addition, they have agreed to maintain the physical state of the property and will assume full responsibility for all financial and liability aspect of the centre upon the conclusion of the four-year deal.