A youth centre which helps to ease children into secondary school has celebrated its fourth birthday.
The West Wittering Youth Drop-in Centre was started when Martina Jeffs (18), Sophie Buckland (17) and another friend asked West Wittering Parish Council to help them find a place where young people could hang out.
The group has since been raising money for different charities through events which included a sleep-out for the homeless and a production of Grease.
Martina's mum Jo Jeffs, of Rookwood Road, West Wittering, is one of the main organisers of the group.
"People from the group raised more than £1,000 for the sleep-out," said Mrs Jeffs.
"Martina also did a Grease production which raised £400 for the Cancer Day Unit at St Richard's Hospital.
"I suffered from breast cancer and it was brilliant to see them working so hard to help this cause. The production was amazing.
"Having this centre helps children from the Witterings make friends with people from the bigger schools.
"A lot of children use the same bus on the way to school so it just makes everything a little easier for the younger ones."
The self-funded group was given a £100 donation from the Woodger Trust, which helped to buy things for a tuck shop and a stereo player.
There was plenty of cake going round at the fourth birthday party on April 2 and Mrs Jeffs made a thank-you speech to everyone who has helped the group.
Parish councillor David Hopson, who went to the party, said: "This is a jewel of a project and a brilliant example of what happens when people decide to do things for themselves."
Anyone interested in joining or helping can contact Jo on 01243 513845.
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The full article contains 327 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
