AN urgent appeal has gone out for volunteers to save a Saturday night youth club in Dartmouth. Unless more helpers can be found the youth sessions for seven to 12-year-olds at Townstal Community Hall may be forced to fold. 'The sad reality is that we are unable to reopen our doors on the planned return date from school holidays on Saturday, September 13, without an adequate number of voluntary support workers,' said community hall chairman Steve Smith. Mr Smith, a town councillor, has put out an SOS for extra helpers after losing three key support team members. A leaflet drop he made to more than1,000 homes in the Townstal area appealing for help has so far brought little success. The crisis situation comes as Dartmouth Town Council is on the brink of brokering a deal to save another youth club in the centre of town. In a cost-cutting measure, Devon County Council is looking to hand back the running of the Ivy Lane youth centre to the town council in a deal involving other organisations. Townstal Community Hall has been the base for youth nights – known as Youth4Us – since January 2011. Over the last three years all sessions have been run by voluntary criminal-record checked support workers. 'Today, ironically in the wake of much work to save the Ivy Lane centre the news from the estate is far from rosy,' said Mr Smith. 'Two key members of the support team are leaving for business and personal reasons, and one support team member has moved from the area, he said following a meeting at the hall to discuss the future of the youth night. Mr Smith, a founder member of Youth4Us, said they were now forced into a situation where legally they could not open the doors without adequate adult cover. 'To safeguard the future of what I consider a frontline service, it's imperative to get this support,' he said. 'There is little or nothing for our kids to do in our wonderful parish and I, as a parent and ward councillor for Townstal, do not want and will not accept that these kids will be roaming the streets and frustration sets in where they go off the rails with anti-social behaviour. 'The community hall is there for them for team bonding, interaction and is a safe warm environment for them to be in. We need to increase our support team to make this happen. If we don't, then simply it won't. 'My SOS distress call is to the whole adult community. 'We would love to hear from anybody who can spare a few hours on a Saturday from 6pm-9pm and who will be willing to undergo a CRB check to support this much-needed service. 'My plea is very simple. Be hands on with your support or we lose it into the annuals of history. And where does that leave our youngsters? Bored and very much let down by the people that they most depend on. 'Please support this very worthy cause and call me on 01803 834841.'