A COUNSELLING charity that works to help children and young people has issued a public plea to help raise nearly £50,000 to revamp its Stourbridge drop-in centre.

Mental health, wellbeing and counselling charity The What? Centre has been working to help youngsters facing difficulties for almost 40 years.

The organisation’s Stourbridge town centre facility, however, is in desperate need of an upgrade.

An online fundraiser has now been launched to try to raise £46,250 to replace the sash windows in the old building in Coventry Street, which is listed.

To donate visit https://www.spacehive.com/whatwindows

CEO of The What? Centre, Julie Duffy, said: “We have two centres, which are run on extremely low budgets. One is in much need of repair. We need help to raise funding for the frontage of our building, and the windows so we can continue our extremely important work.

“Currently, our windows do not open, and in the summer months the building becomes unbearably stuffy. In the winter, the broken and cracked window frames causes the building to become very cold.

“The cost to heat the building in the winter months takes up a considerable amount of expenditure which could instead be invested into delivering services to further support our young clients.

“The frontage is very dated, and also is in desperate need of repair.

“The new windows and frontage will improve the look of the building from the outside and also the inside, but most importantly will allow for our clients to be comfortable while accessing support. If clients are uncomfortable during sessions, it may mean they cannot fully concentrate and engage.

“Thankfully, we have the plans for the improvements approved a few years ago by Dudley Council, but we need to raise the means to action this.”

As well as cutting the charity’s carbon footprint and creating a healthier environment, it is hoped the improvements will help the centre secure future contracts for working with young people.