DISTRICT bosses have agreed to award £20,000 grant aid to a pair of Purbeck youth organisations - and they are considering DOUBLING this amount.

Earlier this year both The Centre - formally Swanage Youth and Community Centre - and Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation, which runs youth clubs in Wareham, Corfe Castle and Wool, contacted Purbeck District Council (PDC) asking for financial support.

This follows the decision taken by Dorset County Council, in 2016, to pull funding for all youth centres in the county.

The Centre, run by Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust, is facing a £37,000 bill for a new roof.

Chairman of trustees Bob Foster, writing to PDC leader Cllr Gary Suttle, said: "We would be very grateful if PDC could consider making a donation towards the cost of these essential works, to enable us to complete the repair in the summer months and help us in our drive to make The Centre sustainable in the long term."

Meanwhile, the Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation is asking for a donation towards its core running costs, currently in the region of £50,000 - £55,000 a year.

A letter signed by key members of the foundation, including chairman Terry Lewis and trustees Richard Holman and Laura Miller, outlined how they've been running ten open access sessions a week since DCC ceased its funding.

They continued: "Since September 2016, over 800 young people have linked with our services and around 240 attend each week.

"We have provided sexual health support, emotional support and some counselling.

"We work with Dorset MIND, have close links with police, provide art and drama therapy sessions, internet safety, training young people to volunteer and weekly CAB (Citizen Advice Bureaux) sessions.

"The difference made to some lives is amazing."

A report to PDC's full council meeting,which took place in October recommended councillors grant £10,000 to each organisation.

This was agreed and members also resolved to consider, after consultation with PDC leader Gary Suttle - and subject to Shadow Dorset Council rules on expenditure by sovereign councils - to increase the £10,000 per club to £20,000 for each organisation.

Costs of the grants, should they be approved, will be met from the council's general reserves.