DEVON Youth Service is preparing to invest around £300,000 in radically up-grading youth facilities in Ashburton and Buckfastleigh.

Mike Stevens, district manager of Devon County Council Youth Services, said: 'Our whole priority this year is to turn around Buckfastleigh and Ashburton. That's how important it is.'

The focus will be on providing better facilities, support and training for those most disaffected young people, who have been causing problems within the two communities. Most of the money – around £250,000 – will go into extending and re-equipping The Bungalow Youth Club in Buckfastleigh. Mr Stevens had hoped to join forces with the long-running youth club in Chapel Street, which has a larger building. However, negotiations did not bear fruit and the investment will now be targetted at the smaller Bungalow property in Plymouth Road.

Mr Stevens said that architect's plans are being drawn up and costings prepared to extend the building and completely revamp the interior. 'There will be a computer suite, a recreational area with a couple of pool tables, disco equipment, play stations and a large screen projector so they can watch live sports and music.

'We will also have new staff at Buckfastleigh with the right training to deal with disaffected young people.'

Mr Stevens and youth worker Brett Rowson have spent time on the streets, engaging with young people to try to get to the root of the problem. 'A lot of these young people are unemployed. They left school after 13-14 years in education and have nothing to show for it. They need help.

'An employer will want to know, what have you got to offer? If they are unemployed for a year their prospects of moving into a job get harder with every month that goes by.'

Young people will be encouraged to develop new skills through taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Youth Challenge and the Devon Youth Challenge. Other training opportunities will be available, such as first aid and food handling and hygiene.

'Young people can gain accreditation through work in their communities which gives them confidence.

Employers like that, it's not only school qualifications that count.'

He already has 17 young people signed up in Buckfastleigh, ready to help with knocking down walls and redecorating, once the plans have gone through the planning process.

In Ashburton, around £35,000 is to be spent on re-equipping The Bank Youth Project. A full-time Devon Youth Service youth worker, Roald Holland, will be teaming up with existing staff and volunteers.

Opening hours are due to be extended from six hours a week to four evenings a week.

Speaking at Ashburton Town Council, last Tuesday, Bank Youth Project worker and town councillor, Julian Skinner, was enthusiastic about the changes.

'It will be a positive thing, providing more activities and more trips,' he said.

Mr Stevens also said he was delighted about the new partnerships.

'I am pleased that both Buckfastleigh and Ashburton have signed up to a new way forward to meet the needs of young people. If you have high quality provision for young people, then you will resolve the problems within the community.'