Parliamentary Reports
| Youth Centre |
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| Friday, 03 July 2009 08:50 |
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A new £1.7m youth project for Nelson
A massive cash injection is set to transform services for young people in Nelson. Councillors, staff, young people and the local community are thrilled this week after hearing that their £1.3m bid to the Lottery’s ‘myplace’ funding programme had been successful. The money will pay for a new state-of-the-art youth and community centre on Leeds Road, with sheltered housing for young people in the pipeline for the same site. County Councillor Jennifer Mein, cabinet member for children and young people said: “The success of the £1.3 million myplace funding bid is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved – especially the young people of Nelson. “They have driven this ambitious project forward since the very beginning, from having the idea to helping plan the building, and I am extremely proud of them. “The combination of facilities that the new project will provide, in buildings of exceptional quality and design, will have an enormous impact on what is on offer for young people in the area. “Knowing that the project can now go ahead thanks to the success of the myplace bid is wonderful. The brand new youth and community centre will make a major contribution to the lives of young people in Nelson and the surrounding area for many years. “I know I speak on behalf of all the partners involved when I wish them the very best of success.”The new youth and community centre will include kitchen, internet café, multi-purpose hall, space for group work and private sessions, fitness, studio and performance workshop areas for arts, music and drama. Young people will also be able to access sexual health services in confidential and familiar surroundings and there will be sessions to help build skills, confidence and self esteem. Residential courses will also be on offer, with a range of team building exercises and special visits to places of interest, and opportunities to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Michelle McNamee, Big Lottery Fund Head of the North West region, said: "Young people are best placed to know what kinds of activities and services they want and need in their local area and this funding is designed to empower and support them to make those ideas a reality. This exciting new project will not only have a positive impact on their own lives and that of their friends, but also the wider community of Nelson."Notes for editors The project includes · A youth and community centre with kitchen, coffee bar, internet café, social area, flexible spaces for curriculum group work and confidential services, health, fitness, dance, music, media and recording facilities;· Externally car/mini-bus parking, landscaping, hard surface games area with lighting; With the success of the Lottery bid, partners can now apply for funding to complete the wider project with supported housing (19 bed hostel including 4 bed emergency and 5 bed supported accommodation) for young people on the same site. Lancashire County Council’s Young People’s Service is working with the following partners to develop its multi-agency project for young people in Nelson: · ELEVATE (East Lancashire Pathfinder Organisation for Housing Renewal)· Pendle Borough Council (PBC)· Pendle Housing (Registered Social Landlord that manages the Borough Council’s housing stock)· Twin Valley Homes (Registered Social Landlord working in partnership with Housing Pendle to develop new housing in the Borough)· Pendle Action for the Community (PAC) ‘SafeSpace’ (reg. youth charity) |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 14:59 ) |
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