A YOUTH group which came to the brink of extinction will celebrate its new lease of life with a dance showcase.

New Bury Youth Club folded 12 months ago but that shocked the community into saving it said leader Darren Balshaw.

For the last eight months it has been received outside help to get back on its feet with the aim of eventually find itself a permanent home.

Mr Balshaw said: “When the youth club shut it was because of a few reasons, the lack of staff, funding and the behaviour of the kids got too much in the end because there weren’t enough staff. But it was a blessing in disguise because people have started to listen now.”

The police helped put the club in touch with Jason Steele, CEO of Raise The Youth, which is based in Great Lever.

Mr Steele is helping the youth club get back on its feet and find funding, in the meantime it is operating out of St James’ CE High School and a couple of other local venues.

The club is using a two to five-year plan to train up youth workers and get funding and find a permanent home at which point Mr Steele and Raise the Youth will take their leave.

Mr Balshaw said: “We set up a girls club which is thriving, we’re up to our limit and we’ve been going about 10 weeks.

“For the last six weeks they have been working with a dance teacher practising a few routines so we decided to do a dance showcase.

“It’s taken off so much, Jason said he’s never known a community like ours.”

During the showcase a group of boys from the club will demonstrate techniques they learned at their boxing classes.

Members of the public are invited to come along to the dance showcase on Wednesday at St James’ CE High School in Lucas Road, Farnworth from 7.30pm to 10pm.

Those interested can pay 50p on the door to attend.

The youth club provides activities for around 160 children aged nine to 16 every night of the week including football, netball and boxing as well as dance and arts and crafts.