The OPEN Youth Trust has appointed four new senior members of staff in a bid to take the charity forward.

The organisation is dedicated to providing opportunities for young people living in Norfolk and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Yesterday, youth programme manager Charlene Ledgard and Grainne Buckley, fundraising manager, both started their new roles. It comes just one month after the charity appointed John Gordon-Saker as its new chief executive and Peter Marron as venue development manager in June.

Mr Marron, who previously worked at the Forum for 14 years, said: 'The fantastic spaces and facilities offer us a real opportunity to grow the variety of activity and business within the venue.

'We aim to increase the number of conferences, gigs, performance and events by building on the excellent reputation of the charity and therefore ultimately helping create a positive difference to the lives of young people in Norfolk'.

The charity's headquarters, situated on the corner of Bank Plain, is used for a variety of events including gigs and exhibitions.

It boasts Norfolk's highest indoor climbing wall and has a state-of-the-art recording studio, dance studio and media lab.

Speaking about what she hoped to achieve in her new role, Mrs Ledgard said: 'I hope to progress and expand the youth provision on offer by providing a varied programme of recreational activities for ages 7 to 19 years ensuring that we adapt to continuously meet the needs of children, young people and the local community and ensure the best outcomes for them.

'I believe work experience and employability skills are currently incredibly important to young people in Norfolk, so volunteering and employability training will be a key aspect of delivery at OPEN. Over the past decade we have positively developed and progressed in all aspects of the organisation and I look forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring'.

The charity recently received £350,000 from the Big Lottery's Reaching Communities Fund to deliver and expand its youth provision with the new project called Your Life.

The scheme aims to provide children with a diverse range of activities targeting youth employment, and health and well-being.

Are you launching a local charity? Call Luke Powell on 01603 772684.