PLANS to open a youth caf in Bewdley have been given a boost after the project was granted charity status.

Town and Worcestershire county councillor Nigel Knowles, who is a member of the Bewdley Youth Caf executive committee said: "We are really pleased we have got Charity Commission status. It is fantastic - it is a stamp of approval. It will help us get funds and give some stability to the project."

The committee is responsible for raising funds to enable it to lease premises for the project and the status will strengthen its applications for grants.

It is made up of Mr Knowles, Andrea Maddocks, of Mentor Link and Jerry Parr, of Bewdley Baptist Church.

Also involved are Bewdley beat manager, PC Nigel Barter, town solicitor, Marion Evans, Bewdley Town Council treasurer, David Moore and local schoolchildren.

In August, Bewdley Town Council committed to providing £1,000 a year in funding, which was in addition to a one-off donation of £1,000 and £253 donated from the Bewdley mayor's charity.

Mr Knowles said: "The next stage is to try and get some more money through grants. What I have been doing is writing to organisations, telling them the good news and asking them for their continued support."

He added the committee was hoping to obtain premises early next year and, ideally, he would like to see the caf open next summer.

The project is modelled on a similar caf Wells in Tenbury and will act as a base to enable young people to organise activities as well as providing a computer suite and health and welfare services.

A social evening for young people in the town has been organised by the committee and will take place on Monday, December 12 at 7pm at Bewdley Youth Centre so that they can find out more about the project.