A much-loved youth club in Wiveliscombe that has been running for many years is being paused and may have to close if organisers cannot raise enough funds to continue.

In The Mix Project, a charitable organisation that also provides various youth and community activities across rural West Somerset and Taunton Deane, is appealing to the local community to help keep the club open through donations, volunteering, and support.

Nick Harvey, chief executive, wrote to parents, carers and supporters of the youth club this week to explain the situation, and the organisation has launched a fundraising campaign on the LocalGiving platform.

The club, based at The Hub Centre in the grounds of Kingsmead School, was taken on by In The Mix from Somerset Council in 2012 to stop it from closing, and is now on a temporary pause, with the charity needing to raise £4,500 by the end of this year if it is to continue.

“We have had lots of people asking when they can come back, and we know this will be disappointing for young people and families,” said Nick.

“The club was sustained through blood, sweat and tears when we took it on. We have got a fantastic asset here, not everywhere has its own purpose-built centre, we are in a really lucky position, with professional youth workers available who also work with schools and the voluntary sector.”

He said they had managed to continue running the youth club even though more than a thousand others around the country had closed since 2010 after local government spending on youth services was slashed during the era of austerity.

But this year they have struggled to raise enough money through charities, events, and grant funding, although they will continue to work with local partners, funders, businesses and the wider community to develop a sustainable future.

As well as seeking donations, Harvey hopes the local community and businesses will support the club in various ways. “We need people to volunteer their time, to share our story with companies that can help with corporate social responsibility, with weatherproofing the outside of the building – there are many ways of getting involved. The door is open if people want to have a conversation about how to help.”

He said the organisation would love to have a fundraiser to help them, and he hoped locals would do things like hold bake sales and sponsored activities, including young people.

The Wiveliscombe youth club has 40 registered users aged eight to seventeen, who have been attending weekly junior and senior sessions during term-time.

In The Mix Project’s four overall areas of work, which has about 500 young people accessing their services in some way, also includes: Youth clubs and holiday provision; dealing with targeted issues, for example around drugs and anti-social behaviour; providing alternative and outdoor learning for those who struggle with accessing mainstream education; and participation – helping young people to have a voice in issues in their communities.