YOUNG people in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge will soon have a safe space to meet up thanks to a group of kind-hearted volunteers.

Megan and Eric Mayer are working with volunteers from Gospel Tabernacle Church in Highbridge to renovate the town’s former Post Office in Church Street and make it a safe, welcoming space for young people aged 16 to 20 to socialise.

The new facility, named ‘The Meeting Place’, will be free to attend and will be equipped with board games, table football and a pool table as well as a TV and a games console.

Eric said: “We moved from the US to live in Highbridge about a year or so ago as I got a job with Kelton Black at the Gospel Tabernacle Church.

“We have seen that there are a lot of young people in this area who are hanging out in car parks and realised that there was nothing for young adults in this area.

“We wanted to do something to give them somewhere safe to go and somewhere they could socialise.

“We discussed the idea of setting up ‘The Meeting Place’ with Kelton and from there we managed to get the use of the former Highbridge Post Office building.

“We spoke to some young people about what they wanted and we have taken it on board and are creating a place for them.

“It will be run as a project by members of the Gospel Tabernacle Church but what we want to do is just give young people a safe place to sit, relax, have a cup of coffee and socialise with people of a similar age.”

The new facility will be launched by members of the church and the Mayor of Highbridge Cllr Andy Brewer on February 8 at 2.30pm and it will be open on Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 5pm to 9pm.

Megan and Eric said they hope the new facility is a success and have plans to expand it in the future.

“We want this to be a project that will be in the town for a while but we have no idea what the demand for it is going to be like yet,” Megan said.

“We will be selling some tea’s, coffee’s and cakes there but we want this to be as low cost as possible.

“We don’t know where this is going to lead but we are excited to see what happens. We have some great ideas for this place and it will be exciting to see where it goes in the future.”

The group said they are on the search for more board games and would welcome any donations or suggestions from the public.

For details or to donate email Megan at megan.mayer@gemission.org.