THE new Bridgetown Youth Enterprises Op Shop (YEOp) have opened their doors amid much excitement and enthusiasm from locals young and old.
The Blackwood Youth Action (BYA) group members were very excited to open the doors of the YEOp shop on Hampton Street last Tuesday and have been flat out with customers calling in as well as community members dropping off some great stuff to sell.
Funds raised from the YEOp shop will go towards BYA's long-term goal of a youth drop-in centre.
BYA Chairperson Dr Sarah Youngson said she was very excited to have this opportunity to help raise funds for the youth drop-in centre, which will also provide great work experience opportunities for youth in the community.
"The goal of the YEOp shop is firstly to find a way to sustainably fund our own youth space and youth worker and secondly to provide young people the opportunity for work experience," Ms Youngson said.
"There is also an opportunity to develop small business skills by holding a variety of workshops. We will be working with the youth to determine what they want to learn and what skills they may need and from that we will be able to work out what areas need to be covered in the workshops.
"This project is a great opportunity for us to work alongside all other youth groups and other interested parties in the community and I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone in the community that has so far supported the young people in their various roles and groups.
"This is so exciting. I am so happy that we have been able to open the doors for this enterprise and I would like to thank our fantastic YEOp coordinator, Sally Paterson, for her time and dedication to this project and our very enthusiastic youth member coordinator Marietta De Bruce, who at the age of just 14 years has thrown herself in to help get this shop up and running," Ms Youngson said.
The opportunity to take over the shop front on Hampton Street came about when BYA committee members attended the 'Bridging Success' workshop held in Bridgetown last December. During the workshop an agreement was made between BYA members and Paterson's Packing shed syndicate members, who also attended the workshop.
"It was a very defining moment when we were able to sort out a 'peppercorn rent' deal at the Bridging Success workshop," Ms Paterson said. “The idea was already there, but getting together during the workshop really clinched the deal.
"This is a great opportunity for the youth in our town and it has been just amazing how much support we are receiving from so many in the community.
"I would like to thank Marietta for all her hard work and long hours she has put in to help get this up and running. She has been enthusiastic from the beginning and it has been her enthusiasm that convinced me this would be a worthwhile enterprise.
"I would also like to thank Bob Wicks from Red Electrical who donated his time to put in the smoke alarms and everyone else in the community, young and old, supporting this venture."
The YEOp shop is open 9am-1pm and 3-5pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays. Donations of clothing, toys, books and other small items are welcome. Electrical and furniture items cannot be accepted.
