Work to start on £1.27m youth centre transformation

The building - which dates from the 1950s and was last refurbished 30 years ago – will undergo a much-needed major internal modernisation, enabling it to increase its range of activities and reach out to even more young people aged 13-19 across the town.

The transformation has been made possible after Hartlepool Borough Council’s Youth Services team bid for and gained the funding from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund, which aims to create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services to achieve positive outcomes for young people, including improved mental and physical wellbeing and skills for life and work.

The main hall will undergo an extensive makeover and the sports hall – which hosts a variety of very popular sports sessions ranging from 5-aside and basketball to volleyball and cricket – will be completely refurbished, including new flooring and ventilation.

The existing kitchen area will be remodelled and a coffee bar created, providing a safe social space for the young people to enjoy.

A new, separate training kitchen will also be installed, where the young people will be able to learn skills such as cooking, cleaning, washing and budgeting, helping them to prepare for independent living as adults.

The upper floor, which is currently not used by the Youth Services, will become a new emotional wellbeing space where young people will be able to receive one-to-one support from a qualified youth worker.

The refurbishment is expected to be completed in the autumn.

Councillor Jim Lindridge (left) celebrates the imminent start of work on Rossmere Youth Centre with some of the young people who use the centre and (right) youth support workers Caroline Shilson and Jack Cummings

Councillor Jim Lindridge, Chair of the Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “This is absolutely fantastic for the young people who use the centre.

“They worked closely with our Youth Services team to put in a very inspiring bid for the funding, based around the improvements they wanted to see.

“It will completely transform the building, making better use of space and creating a much more welcoming environment.

“It will create a centre fit for the 21st century where young people across the town can meet and enjoy lots of great activities, learn new skills as they grow into young adults and, if they need it, receive one-to-one advice and support from the fantastic youth workers.”