A YOUTH club in Wantage is holding a VIP open evening tomorrow night, after reopening three weeks ago.

Sweatbox has been ‘on tour’ for some nine months following local school King Alfred’s move to another site, but has now been relocated to a more modern building on the school's centre site.

Tomorrow’s invite-only event will celebrate the contribution of those who help fund the club and provide support for its organisers.

George Hicks, the youth centre manager, said: “It is really important to invite those people in, see what they have to say and say thank you. We rely heavily on all of our different fundraisers.”

The club only got access to the new building, on King Alfred's Academy's centre site, at the beginning of September, before moving in new equipment for a fortnight and opening towards the end of the month.

It says it has had more than 150 people attend each Friday night since reopening and that it is now back to a full schedule.

Mrs Hicks added: "We have got a really varied offering on now and its just about getting used to a new building.

"It’s been really well received by the young people at the end of the day it is for them.

"The reaction of the people that volunteer for us has been really positive."

The 43-year-old, from Wantage, continued: "We tried to keep elements of the old building. It’s still got a retro diner feel to it - we tried to keep the black and white checkered colouring and have the Dylan Edwards mosaic [dedicated to a local 15-year-old, who died by suicide] back in.

"The space itself is brilliant as we have got a big hallway that goes down the middle as a break out space - almost like a third room.”

Sixth formers are now using the space during the day, while local bands have also been allowed to use it to rehearse.

Mrs Hicks continued: "“It's now being used during the day as well as the evening. Lots of young people are using it all of the time now, which is great - exactly how it should be."

She added that Sweatbox on Tour had been 'brilliant' and 'enjoyable' but was happy to move back into a permanent location.

She paid tribute to King Alfred's and encouraged youngsters from across the area to join the 'open' club.

Sweatbox is planning a Halloween party and rehearsals for the Town Mayor’s Carol Concert.