FOR a relatively new group, Somerset Time for Youth has managed to fit in an awful lot since the club was founded in April last year.

Members of the group, which provides a place for young people with learning disabilities to meet new friends and try different activities, have been encouraged to try their hand at all sorts of things over the last nine months and, according to chairperson Jane Macpherson, they have no intention of slowing down in 2015.

She said: “At the meetings we do all sorts, from discos, to games, to educational activities.

“We really try to have as much variety as we can do in order to allow the children to develop as individuals.”

The group recently took part in a Food to Fork trail in affiliation with Tesco where the children visited the supermarket to learn about how food gets from producers to plate.

Jane explained: “We went round Tesco and they learned about food production and the retail side of things and then at the end they all went in to the bakery and made bread.

“The baker baked it for them and they took it home with them, which they absolutely loved.”

The club recently moved to a more accessible base in West Huntspill and meets fortnightly.

However Jane explained that the club also provides a place where the parents can come and chat amongst their peers.

She said: “A lot of the parents like to come along and be able to sit down and talk to others in the same situation.

“Many of them don’t or can’t get out much and so it’s nice for them to come along and have a cup of tea and relax a bit.”

At the moment the group has 19 members between the ages of eight and 18 with five volunteers who help run the club. However in 2015 the club is looking to go from strength to strength with more members and more activities the youngsters can try their hand at.

“I wrack my brains to think of what we can do next,” said Jane.

“I’m hoping to get a theatre group involved so the children can try a bit of acting in the near future, along with anything else I can think of.

“We’re always looking for new things to do and we always welcome new members too.”

Somerset Time for Youth meets every other Saturday at Balliol Hall in Church Road, West Huntspill, from 10.30am- 1pm – for details on joining or to volunteer call 07745-236742 or email somersettimeforyouth@ gmail.com