A Christian youth organisation is to close after nearly a decade.

The Noise on Sheppey started in 2005 when a group of young people from Sheppey saw the work of London social action group Soul in the City and decided to try it for themselves.

Former Island Baptist minister Steve Barber helped set things in motion and about 40 members joined within its first year.

The name Noise on Sheppey stems from an aim to “get the message of God’s love out there through actions”.

It was adapted from the title of a similar community project, run by Christian organisation Soul Survivor.

Over the years the Noise on Sheppey has carried out youth work in schools and organised summer and Christmas activities around the Island.

Alongside that they have carried out gardening projects for elderly and disabled people and helped parish councils with everything from clearing out car parks and graveyards to cleaning road signs.

The volunteers have also attended worship and praise gatherings.

Simon Whittle, 25, of Nursery Close, Sheerness, is one of the worship leaders and the longest serving member, having helped to get the Noise off the ground.

He said there has been a big change in the churches on the Island where it is now felt they need to be working on a smaller scale, helping individuals, rather than organising big projects.

The IT worker said: “All this has coincided with the leadership of the Noise having to move on.” Former manager Amanda Pink has moved to Buckinghamshire where she is training to be a Baptist minister.

Mr Whittle said: “I think the legacy of it will be the people who were involved in it who are now doing their own work, just not on the scale of the Noise.

“Probably the best thing was when we started working in Vincent Gardens and just bringing the whole community there together.” Anyone who was a part of The Noise is being invited to a farewell get-together which starts on Valentine’s Day at 7.30pm with fun and games and a sleepover at Strode Crescent Baptist Church, Sheerness.

The following day there will be a breakfast followed by a day of prayer, reflection and socialising before a closing celebration at 7pm.

Commemorative T-shirts can be ordered through the Facebook page before January 26.