Policy into practice: Myplace youth centre grants
Anne Longfield
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The issue: High-quality, attractive places for young people to go to are critical in our efforts to create inspirational activities for them, raise their aspirations and improve their wellbeing. Construction of world-class youth centres also contributes to reducing antisocial behaviour.
The government committed to funding the development of a new generation of youth centres as part of its 10-year strategy Aiming High for Young People. Drawing inspiration from the success of integrated family and health services forming part of children's centres, the new youth hubs will help deliver this sort of all-round support for teenagers.
At the end of November, the first wave of projects to be funded through the Myplace scheme was announced, signalling the start of an exciting era of investment.
CASE STUDY 1
Thanks to £4.8m in Myplace funding, the North Staffordshire YMCA buildings in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, will be overhauled to make way for the Young Person's Village.
A state-of-the-art youth complex, the Village will include a library, a learning zone, sports facilities and changing rooms, exhibition space and areas for socialising. It should provide a real boost for the young people in Stoke, who currently lack high-quality sports facilities or guidance, particularly for more vulnerable young people who have been excluded from school or are ex-offenders.
By giving large numbers of young people an attractive place to go, it promises to get them off the streets and reduce negative perceptions of young people in the community.
CASE STUDY 2
New Horizon Youth Centre in Camden, London, provides vital support for the most vulnerable young people - those with a history of harm and abuse and who are homeless.
It offers health, housing and employment advice as well as counselling, education, food, laundry and shower facilities. Helping young people with literally nowhere to go, New Horizon enables homeless young people to return to mainstream society.
Already serving 3,000 young people a year, its £1.5m Myplace grant will allow New Horizon to be refurbished and expand the diversity of services on offer. IT training and facilities, cooking workshops, performing arts, a music studio and sports and gym activities will now be on offer.
