THE first of a series of community advice surgeries will start at a Sedbury youth centre next week.

They are being run at The Gaff in King Alfred’s Road on Tuesday mornings from 9am by Green Square.

The surgeries will cover issues such as housing, benefits checks, health and debt advice.

Green Square will also bring along the ‘hello bus’ which includes drinks and wi-fi as well as information.

The surgeries are the result of a community consultation exercise, Celebrate Sedbury, which was an initiative by residents and police.

The Gaff is currently only used about three nights a week and a group of local people have been looking at how to make better use of the centre.

They have negotiated a longer term lease with owners Two Rivers Housing and are hopeful that more groups will use it to develop community projects.

The Gaff management committee will be hosting an open day on Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27.