The youth centre was built as a lasting memorial for the people of Filton after a tragic minibus accident in 1962 saw 11 members of the ‘Filton Youth Club’ killed, including the then leader Alf James. Public appeal saw the centre built as a collaboration between the local authority and the Methodist Church and there was a well-attended opening ceremony on 1st April 1967 with the Lord of Ducie opening it!
50 years on and the youth centre is still providing great activities for young people in the area, as well as now for older people too. We celebrated our 50th anniversary by holding a Golden Egg Trail around Filton March 8th – April 8th and then a community weekend April 8-9th.
Free Egg Trail
We produced a Golden Egg trail map -with 50 locations around Filton. Trail maps were distributed through Filton primary schools, Library, Children’s Centre, Abbeywood Tots nurseries, churches, youth centres, and our egg locations.
All people needed to do was find the Eggs which were displayed in windows / shops / notice boards and community buildings. Each had a unique word printed on it. They then wrote the word onto the story in their trail map to complete a story about Filton and the youth centre!
This is the trail map which we produced:
There was a small prize (button badge) for everyone who completed the trail! Then on April 8th anyone who brought in a completed trail map to our celebration event were entered into a prize draw for a jumbo prize hamper!
Ella and Mia were our very happy winners!
April 8th
12-3pm there was a free community event at the youth centre including stalls, displays, games, raffle, tombolas, face painting, bouncy castle, climbing wall, and members of the UK Garrison (Star Wars characters) also joined us! Lots of fun for all the family!
April 9th
There was a special service at St Andrews Methodist Church to commemorate the 50 years of the youth centre and to remember the tragic minibus crash which led to it being built.
Following the church service we paraded over to the youth centre and there was a rededication and blessing led by Rev Hilary Cooke and a lovely bring and share lunch until 1.30pm.