First Pool tournament against the Police

The Drop Inn held its first pool tournament against the local police helping to break down barriers. There was much cheating – that was just the police!! We lost 8 – 6. The police provided a shield which they had engraved – they were to keep it for the first year of winning.

Rotary donate £500

The Rotary showed support for the centre by making a donation of £500. This is a partnership which will grow over the future.

Derbyshire Building Society Donation

Derbyshire Building Society made a donation of £850 to pay the rent for a year.
The Drop Inn became a registered charity. We set up a board of Trustees and with the help of Amber Valley Borough Council wrote our Constitution,

Little Brother contest

We organised a Little Brother challenge, this consisted of 2 teams, a 12 hour lock in, with team challenges every 2 hours and a vote to evict a member of the opposing team as well as a member of their own team. Points were awarded on behaviour as well as completion of the tasks. The first person was chosen for eviction by both teams for eating all the biscuits. It proved very successful and all enjoyed it. The Mayor Randal Sanders presented a prize to the winner.

Santa's Grotto @ The Drop Inn

Belper Town Council asked us to host Santa’s Grotto for the town, some of the young people who were not in school transformed the centre into a grotto, Bingorama supported us with the loan of plastic elves and boards. Santa donated us 2 games consoles and games.

Volunteer Team gets bigger

Another friend of mine – Kieth – joined the team of volunteers.
We were invited to a conference at Count Hall, Matlock. The Mulberry Bush lent us their mini bus. The young people who attended were very proud to be representing this new centre and even took to the stage to have their say. It was a very proud moment for us all.

Belper Town Council support

Belper Town Council paid 2 months rent for us of £280

£500 Donation from Councillor Wildsmith

Councillor Wildsmith recognised the work of the Drop Inn and made a donation of £500 to help with our running and equipment costs. House Proud and the British Legion donated us some computers.

Princes Trust Graffiti workshop

Young people with the Princes Trust came in and worked with us to redecorate and do some graffiti art on the walls.

The Official Opening

We held the official opening of the Drop Inn – a centre for youth run by youth. Belper Town Council bought us a pool table to set us up, the local Police gave us £500 to open up the fire escape and for security grills. To open up the fire exit I was out in the back yard trying to kick in the old door, suddenly a voice came from above asking what I was doing, it was a red spikey head who insisted on coming down, he appeared, ripped jeans to accompany the red spikey hair, ‘oh no, what have we here?’ I thought. But a more polite helpful young lad I could not have wished to meet – moral of this day, not everything with red spikey hair is dangerous!! He became a regular member of the Drop Inn and remained helpful and polite.
The grand opening