YOUNG people in Strabane look set to lose out following a review of the town's youth service provision by the Western Education and Library Board (WELB).
It is understood that under the shake up in youth provision locally, Strabane Youth Club could be cut back to just three nights per week.
At present, the club runs five nights per week and caters for hundreds of school children, up to the age of 17.
While all staffing positions at the Melvin based project have been safeguarded, local youth workers have expressed their anger that the town's young people are to be denied by the review.
One said it was an absolute disgrace and there was clearly no regard for the young people.
Hundreds of young people from Strabane, Dunamanagh, Sion Mills, Plumbridge, Clady, and even Donegal attend the club for various activities .
The Club opens two nights a week, Monday and Friday, for junior members and the other three nights in the week for the senior members.
"It's a disgrace," said one member of staff, "the children who use this facility are not being taken into account by the Board. The staff are very angry.
"We were told unofficially last Thursday night that plans were in place for the club to be reduced to a part time basis.
On Monday night members of the Strabane Youth Association met with the Board where it is understood that they offered to compromise if the Club would operate four nights in the week.
But the most important viewpoint in all of this is the children.
So this week, the Strabane Chronicle spoke to some of the children who will be directly affected by the youth provision rethink, and who have yet to be officially told.
However, a consultation process is believed to be underway.
Thirteen year old Rory McColgan said that if it wasn't for the youth club, he would simply be lying at home watching television.
"I come down most nights during the week and play football on the astro turf, have a game of snooker with my friends and just hang out.
"I've made loads of friends since I started coming to the youth club and I've been away on lots of trips. It gets me out of the house and gives me the opportunity to do things and go places I probably wouldn't get to see or do anywhere else. It is important to me and I would be upset if it was cut back."
Thomas Bonner, a 13 year old pupil at Holy Cross College revealed he was bullied at primary school. But since joining Strabane Youth Club the bullying has stopped and he has met loads of people his own age.
"I've been coming here three years and I've made so many new friends in that time. I was bullied at school, but when I started coming here at the start I was made to feel part of the club.
" Now I hardly miss a night and I love getting down to play football or basketball with my mates," he said.
Commenting on the bad press that often goes along with being a young person in Strabane, Thomas added: "It's not fair when people say that all teenagers in Strabane want to do is drink and smoke.
"Some of the young people my age do but most of us would tell them to catch themselves on.
"Coming to Strabane Youth Club keeps us from getting into that sort of thing and keeps us off the streets and out of trouble."
Lauren McCready, also 13 and a pupil at Holy Cross College, said she too would be at home doing nothing if the club wasn't there for her.
"I've been coming here about five years and if they took the club away I think Iwould cry.
"It passes the time during the week and gives me and my friends somewhere to meet up. If I wasn't down here during the week, I would probably be at home watching the soaps on television," she said.
Twelve year old Lauren Maguire said that she hopes to be a part of the club for a few years yet.
"I enjoy getting down to the club and just hanging about and chatting to my friends and the leaders.
" I've been coming for about three years and I hope to still be coming in another three years. I would even like to go on and be a leader when I'm older," she said.
With regards plans to cut club nights back, Lauren added: "It's not right.
" I see people having fun all the time and the club is important to everyone," she adds before going back inside.
