Plans to create a new magazine are under way as councillors look to find ways of promoting their town’s youth provision.

The idea for the production of a specialised Beccles youth magazine is the brainchild of the town’s youth champions Sam Kenward, Caroline Topping and Andrea Downes, whose role it is to form a link between young people and the council.

It is hoped that its circulation would inform young people about youth facilities and organisations in and around Beccles, as well as provide a platform for them to put forward their views.

Having obtained funding from Waveney District Council’s (WDC) enabling fund, the trio of youth champions are aiming to release the first issue around Easter time, although a date has not yet been confirmed.

Mr Kenward, who joined the Beccles Town Council in 2015, said: “Regardless of what’s going on in the town, there’s only so much we can do in terms of promotion.

“When I was on the Waveney Youth Council we produced a magazine for high schools

“Although young people tend to think there is not much out there for them to do but, unlike a lot of other towns we’ve actually been able to keep a lot of our youth provision programmes.

“The intention now is to not necessarily increase what Beccles can offer young people, but instead promote what we already have.”

An initial idea for a youth magazine was actually put forward back in 2015, but wasn’t made a priority until last year.

The youth champions have since been working with local schools to obtain their input on the project, and there exists a desire to encourage young people to take an active role in the creative process for each magazine.

“One of the main things we’re looking to do is make sure the project is sustainable with the input of the young people themselves,” added Mr Kenward.

“Ideally this new magazine will not only be read by young people, but also produced by youngsters as well.

“We want to get as many young people writing their own articles so that readers find the content more relatable.”

Updates on the production of the first edition of Beccles youth magazine will follow in due course.