CREDITON youth worker Rich Martin has joined Crediton Town Council’s staff.

For the last four years, the Town Council has worked in partnership with the Crediton Methodist Church in developing detached youth work.

This work involves activities with young people in public spaces and, under restrictions, Rich has been developing these since October, when he began working for the Methodist Church in Crediton.

The activities have expanded more quickly than anticipated, with groups meeting for music, art and graffiti workshops.

During May, Rich and colleagues set up activities on St Lawrence Green, asking for students’ views about climate change amongst other things.

During the summer, there will be activities in Newcombes Meadow, especially concentrating on Year 6 school pupils moving on to secondary school who have missed out on the usual familiarisation visits.

With all this happening, the Town Council and Crediton Methodist Church discussed the future of the detached work. Together it was agreed that the Town Council was in the best position to progress it.

The Methodist Church will still need its own youth worker. Currently, Rich works with youth workers at Crediton Congregational Church and this partnership working has enabled evening sessions to continue outdoors since restrictions have allowed.

Councillor Liz Brookes-Hocking, chairman of the council said: “We are delighted to welcome Rich to the staff.

“We are also grateful to Crediton Methodist Church for its contribution towards establishing youth work in the town.

“It’s been quite a long process since we first started working together but bringing Rich onto the staff has resulted in creating a youth work post within the town council.

“That can only be a good thing – it will be a long time before we think we’ve got too many youth workers in Crediton!”