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Horden Youth And Community Centre

horden youth and community centre

Peterlee

Horden used to be a mining village, and back in the Sixties, it was the pit that defined what our community was. Young people were a vital part of that group, and the Centre you see today grew out of the Youth Club that started in 19­66 in the renovated pit canteen — and the Girls' Infant School (later a Mixed Infants, but the girls don't like to remember that part). Horden Youth Club moved from their first building into one on Sunderland Road, and from there to a "hut" in the school playground. When the Infant School closed its doors to little ones, Durham County Council offered the facility to the Youth Club. By the time they were ready to move in, in the late Seventies, rain had seeped into the building and where the pool table now stands in the main hall, a huge hole was dug to make the floor safe and re-lay the beautiful parquet flooring. When the repair and refurbishment was finished, Horden Youth Centre was born. It's all right — the hole was filled in, but if ever we tell you that a former staff member is still here in spirit, please don't ask too many questions… It was decided that two rooms could be offered to other people in Horden and so, for a while, what are now the dining room and training room were used for all sorts of activities leaving the rest of the building for the young people. It was at that point that we became Horden Youth and Community Centre, but it was several years before the "Youth" and the "Community" bits joined together in the way you see us now. Many changes have taken place in the intervening years, not least becoming first a registered charity and, later, a limited company. And now? Regardless of any surface changes, what we are at our core doesn't change at all. Quite simply, we are here to offer pursuits and experiences to the local community which encourage choice and personal development. By keeping costs down and creating a warm and friendly environment, as well as operating an 'open door' policy for anyone who requires help, advice, signposting or support — and often just someone to listen — we strive, every day, to provide a hub for people to become involved with new people and the wider community around them. In keeping with our motto 'from the cradle (almost) to the grave', we offer services for all age groups from the very young to the elderly. Take a deep breath, now… Our Nursery provides affordable child care for 2 to 5 year olds; the tweenies are well catered for with dance and gymnastics classes; the Youth Club caters for 11 to 19 year-olds; there is usually a huge variety of classes and activities for adults; and apart from our Luncheon Club, Friday Afternoon Bingo Club and Gentle Fitness group, we are planning even more events for the over 65s. This will include a Fifties-style coffee bar complete with 'frothy coffee' and period music, so keep an eye on the Centre notices, website, newsletters and local press for further details as we get them! Other future plans include 'Hole in the Wall Enterprises', a social enterprise venture that has grown out of our clippy mat group; open days; fairs (that's table-top sales, not waltzers and dodgems — but you never know!); and, of course, an ever-growing list of activities and courses. We know our past and our present, and are ever-hopeful that we will go from strength to strength in our future. We want people to use the Centre because that's what it's here for. We need to know what the community wants from us, and we need the people of Horden to tell us. We invite you — whether you want to join us and join in, offer your services, or complain that we're getting it all wrong — to come in for a chat any time and help us continue to help Horden — the way Horden wants!

Theresa A. Kahn

theresa a. kahn

Thus far, it has been an incredible journey through life with its challenges, obstacles, and great insights gained on the way. I began both my life and spiritual journey from when I was born in West Germany in a military hospital outside of Wiesbaden, Air Force Base. My father was in the U.S. Air Force. Children born from military parents were considered military brats. I suspect that was the case because we were given the opportunity to travel the world, see how others lived, learn about different cultures, peoples, and religions. We were certainly spoiled in that way. It was a very colourful upbringing, having had the opportunity to live in and travel to so many countries. After my father’s deployment in West Germany and where I was born, we moved to France for several years, then Japan for a further 5 years, then back again to Germany for another 5 years, where I completed my high school years. Those experiences certainly gave me the impetus and even perhaps memories from past lives as being a traveller and explorer of sorts. I grew to love traveling because it opened my eyes to a greater world where endless possibilities were reachable. Navigating My Way Through Life in London I was never a child to follow the crowd, always an observer and very curious. I was born extremely sensitive, an empath, very intuitive, which was both a help and a hinder as I navigated my way through life. When we finally moved back to America after spending most of my early years overseas, I could feel almost immediately and instinctively I would not remain in America for long. I was being ‘called’ back to Europe and when an opportunity arose in the form of studying as an exchange student in London, England, at the University of London, there was no way that I was going to ignore this inner pull. London was to become my home and has been my base since I arrived those 30+ years ago. Living in Europe gave me the space to spread my wings, further my life experiences and delve deeper into my spiritual quest. As we all go through this unique time in history with the world changing so rapidly, it is also an opportune time to explore and expand by joining together in our spiritual journey through meditation, healing, and discovery. Allow Me to Reach Out My Hand and Open Heart to You I have been immensely blessed that my studies and experiences, in Education, Holistic Healing, Meditation, Spiritual and Personal Development have led me to teaching, facilitating, coaching, and mentoring, as well as being able to offer a beautiful array of ‘Energy- Based Interventions’. Clients, students, and those wanting spiritual guidance have come to me from all walks of life, from different belief systems, gender preferences, professions, and cultures. It has always been an enormous pleasure to learn from one another and share our commonality; an invisible thread that binds us together, through our desire for inner peace, comfort, good health, and above all, LOVE! Image I continue to work in this way and so grateful to offer my expertise to those who are genuinely committed in wanting to make this world a better place, by having the deep desire to do the inner work needed for healthy, conscious positive change.