Volunteers at a youth group have created a petition calling for the centre to reopen after facing the heartbreak of turning children away.

Northfleet Youth Club closed earlier this month after Kent County Council (KCC) withdrew funding.

Cuts to youth services across the county were announced last November in a bid to save cash-strapped KCC around £900,000.

One of the victims has been the club in Hall Road, Northfleet, which has helped several generations of youngsters.

And turning people away since the KCC contract ended on March 31 has been tough, says one of its volunteers.

“As a senior member it was awful,” she said. “Seeing their faces of disappointment was heartbreaking.”

Another volunteer, Emily Lindridge, set up the petition to make the government realise how many people the closures will affect and what it means to those who benefit from the clubs. To sign it, click here.

“Without my youth club, I wouldn’t be where I am today and I’m so upset that this is been taken away from us…”

The 19-year-old said: “I’ve been volunteering here for years now, helping children who are dealing with mental health and behavioural issues.

“Before I became a volunteer, I was sent to the early help workers at the youth club because I badly struggled with my own mental health.

“They really helped me improve my confidence and now I am doing much better.

“But now Kent County Council and the government are taking away early help workers, youth clubs and child centres, meaning all mental health support is being taken away from your children right in front of you.

”Youth clubs and children’s centres are so important for young people - there's an epidemic with children’s and adolescence mental health, and youth clubs play a vital role in supporting young people's mental health.

“Without my youth club, I wouldn’t be where I am today and I’m so upset that this is been taken away from us and I have had to turn away children at the door who need us.”

Parents fear for their children’s futures following the centre’s closure.

Ella Saward-Hutton, whose 20-year-old son, Oliver, has been attending the Northfleet club for years, said: “The problem is that he can’t even go to a different centre because they are closing them all.

“There is nowhere for our children to go.”

She added: “Crime and vandalism will go up as the youngsters will end up on the streets.

“It’s been lovely. It’s the little bit of independence doing their own thing that’s not school and not with their parents…”

“It’s not all kids but it will happen as they have got nothing to entertain themselves.”

Ella says people should have been given the chance to fundraise or pay a subscription to attend, if that meant the difference between them closing or remaining open.

Another parent, Lisa Kay, went to the club more than 20 years ago and was keen for her daughter Lola, 11, to go too.

Lisa, 35, said: “I came here to get off the streets and for something to do.

“I wanted Lola to come here and experience what I experienced.”

Lisa said she has a younger daughter who is autistic and said Lola likes the time away from the family home.

“It’s her safe space. She is learning cooking and making friends with children she might not make friends with at school.

“Lola just came out in tears saying they are shutting down,” she added. “She was heartbroken. She loved her time here.

“There is nothing for her to do that is free around here anymore.”

Amanda Murphy, who had to tell her eight-year-old son Finn that his favourite place was closing, said: “He was heartbroken to hear he would not be able to go anymore.

“It’s been lovely. It’s the little bit of independence doing their own thing that’s not school and not with their parents.”

Joseph Kent, 17, has been volunteering there for six years.

He said it is an important experience for both the children who attend and those who run it.

“I started going as a way of building my confidence,” he said.

“It has helped me be a better person and it’s really sad that other people will not get the same opportunities to come here and be a part of this community.”

“We know residents of all ages value our services, but we must adapt to the hard financial realities…”

Under KCC’s plans, youth centres are to be rebranded as “family hubs” requiring a referral to access their services.

While many services ceased at the end of March, some have found alternative funding.

The Grand and Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG) secured cash from Arts Council England for creative projects and will start a new partnership with the NHS.

A KCC spokesperson said: “The decision not to recommission additional youth services when their contracts expired in March, was driven by the need for KCC to make savings totalling £58 million this financial year.

“The overall savings made by not renewing these contracts is £913,000.

“We know residents of all ages value our services, but we must adapt to the hard financial realities.

“In the face of these well-documented challenges, moving to Family Hubs will help us better target services to young people where they are needed most – through a mix of on-site, online and community settings.

“Together with our partners, we’re working to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible.

“We’re also offering support to all affected youth groups and will continue to work with any community groups able to provide services to Kent’s young people.”