Teens' £3m bid for Weymouth youth centre is a success (From Thisisdorset)

Teens' £3m bid for Weymouth youth centre is a success

7:30am Thursday 17th December 2009 in

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A NEW £3million youth centre has been given the go-ahead thanks to the determination of the youngsters who need it most.

The Government has awarded the £3,056,240 grant to replace the Steps youth club building in Chickerell Road and funds will also be used to refurbish the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC) in Knightsdale Road.

The old Weymouth Boys Club Building will be demolished after nine youth club members spearheaded a bid for funding and became one of only eight in 170 applications to win money.

Amber McNaughton, 17, one of the members who pushed for the money, said: “This is amazing news for young people in Weymouth and Portland.

“Our project will give young people like myself fantastic opportunities and support in the future so we are all really excited.”

The new centre will have a sports hall, performing arts facilities, a computer suite and film production studio and a café run by the young people.

Tom Lane, the area youth worker at Steps, praised the team of youngsters who worked on the bid and said the new building will enable the centre to expand.

He said: “It’s been a dream for the 15 years I’ve worked here that we would get a new fabulous building as the current one is on its last legs.

“It’s absolutely amazing.”

Mr Lane also praised South Dorset MP Jim Knight for his support for Steps.

The grant is being channelled through the Big Fund – part of the National Lottery – but the money is being provided by the Department of Children, Schools and Families’ 'myplace' initiative.

Mr Knight said: “I’m delighted for all the staff and young people involved with Steps.

“I know the amount of work and effort they have put into this bid and they deserve real praise to have received the funding.”

The project was designed by the young people and submitted through Dorset County Council.

Toni Coombs, childrens services spokesman at the council, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to support this exciting bid for Weymouth.

“The amount of money they have secured is truly life changing – and I’d like to congratulate the young people involved for their hard work.”

The young members will now form the Weymouth Young People’s Union to help design the new centre – to be called The Hub.

It is expected to host dance, drama, aerobics, football, netball, cricket, kabaddi, hockey, a cinema and a café to be run by the young people.

Other services will address sexual health issues, mental health and self-harming, coping with exams and stress, family breakdown, relationships, bullying, education, employment and training opportunities.

It is planned the centre will be open 11 hours a day, seven days a week and six evenings a week between 5pm and 10pm as an open access youth centre.

The WOEC is expected to get a new community club room, refurbished changing rooms and improved climbing wall facilities.

The target date for the new centre to be ready is August 2012.