Salvation Army-run Lounge Youth Drop-in centre closes

The Salvos have pulled the pin on a popular youth program in Healesville, leaving a mum devastated and fearing for the future of young people in the town.

The Salvos will no longer run the youth lounge in Healesville.

There are fears for the future of young people in Healesville after a much-loved drop-in centre closed unexpectedly.

The Salvation Army-run Lounge Youth Drop-in Centre, run on the second and fourth Friday of the month at the Salvos Hall opposite the police station, held its last session on July 26.

The centre is described on the Salvos website as a safe space for young people aged 12-21, supervised by qualified youth workers, with a range of youth-friendly activities including a pool table, computer with free internet access, piano, air hockey table, board games and ‘space to just chill out’.

Healesville mum Kylie French said her sons had spent time at the lounge over the years and she was devastated it had closed.

“My boys over the years have spent time at the lounge, done youth group activities, gone on camps with the Salvos, it has just been extraordinary,” Ms French said.

“It has been amazing and just improved their lives.

“It’s just phenomenal what these lovely (youth workers) have done for us over the last 12 or so years.”

She said she received a text message a fortnight ago to alert her that the final lounge would be held on July 26.

Ms French said there was no reason given as to why it was closing.

“We had fantastic people all making a massive impact on kids in this town who desperately need it because there is not much to do out here,” she said.

“The teenagers are being let down, the parents are being let down, and most importantly the town and the community is being let down.

“To be honest I’m scared of what is to come — if the kids around here have nothing to do what are they going to turn to?”

On Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader’s Facebook page Molly Louise said she was disappointed in the decision.

“It was such a great place for young people to escape to and did a lot of good for the wider community,” she said.

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Freedom Centre Healesville youth pastor Josh Greaves said it was not taking over the running of the youth lounge, but invited teens to attend its program run on Thursday nights at the Salvos Hall.

“We run a youth program on Thursday nights,” Mr Greaves said.

“It’s not the same as the lounge, it is our own program.

“We want to create a fun and safe place for the community to come.”

He said students in Year 7 to 12 could come along to enjoy fun, games and connection at the volunteer-run program.

He said the Chill program for students in Grades 5, 6 and 7, previously run by the Salvos, would also continue to run on Thursdays under a new group of volunteers from the Freedom Centre.

The Salvation Army did not respond to Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader’s request for comment.