A YOUTH club run by a Christian charity is to train a bouncer to deal with the growing number of ‘fights and skirmishes’.

Vision Rossendale, which runs weekly events in Rawtenstall and Waterfoot, said the behaviour of some youngsters was ‘challenging’.

It has been awarded a county council grant to train one of its 20 volunteers, an ex-nurse, as a door supervisor with the Security Industry Authority.

Vision, based at Woodlea Mission, in Tenterfield Street, Waterfoot, said failure to train such a person could force the 100-member youth club to close and return to street work.

County Coun Anne Cheetham, Conservative member for Rossendale South, has approved a local member grant of £558 towards the cost of the training.

In its application, Vision said: “Hall Carr council estate, in Rawtenstall, is designated as an area of high multiple deprivation.

“Vision has been running Engage youth cafe every Thursday night, term time, for the last seven years in response to children and young people asking for a ‘place to hang out’.

“Approximately 70 to 100 children and young people come here every week. The behaviour of some of the children can be challenging at times, with fights and skirmishes breaking out, necessitating trained volunteers to deal with the incidents.

“The local community police have always supported us and reported, right at the start, that ASBOs in the area fell, plus a reduction in crime and nuisance on the estate.”

The Engage is held at the Scout Hut, in Cherry Crescent, Rawtenstall, where youngsters can meet to play sports, make crafts, and use a cafe.

The charity was refused a similar grant by County Coun Jackie Oakes, for Rossendale East, who said she wished to donate her pot of cash to groups she’d not previously supported.