Appeal launched for youth centre memories and photos

Work is ongoing on a £1.27m internal modernisation of Rossmere Youth Centre, which opened in 1964, to create a more welcoming environment and enable it to increase its range of activities and reach out to even more young people aged 13-19 across the town.

The work is due to be completed by the end of the year and the young people who use the centre are planning a reopening exhibition looking back on the centre’s last 60 years and are appealing for photos and reminiscences to feature in it.

Alaina Musgrave, one of the exhibition organisers, said: “Rossmere Youth Centre has meant a lot to so many people over the years and we’d love to hear from people who are happy to share with us their stories and photos of the time they spent there when they were teenagers.

“Please get in touch and help make our exhibition a real success.”

Councillor Rachel Creevy, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, added: “Youth Services have supported thousands of young people over the years and it will be fantastic to hear some of the memories from people who've used Rossmere Youth Centre or who have worked there over the years."

Photos and memories should be emailed to Sarah McCluskey of the Council’s Youth Support Services Team at sarah.mccluskey@hartlepool.gov.uk.

Alternatively, arrangements can be made to scan and return original photos or to chat to people to record their memories – to arrange this please call 01429 523900.

Cllr. Rachel Creevy outside Rossmere Youth Centre with some of the young people organising the exhibition – Alaina Musgrave, Jack Mitchell and Brandon Malton – and Youth Service Team Leader Caitlin Connor and Youth Support Worker Elle Sullivan.

The transformation of the youth centre has been made possible after the Council’s Youth Services bid for funding from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund.

The main hall is undergoing 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 – is being completely refurbished, including new flooring and ventilation.

The existing kitchen area is being remodelled to include a coffee bar, providing a safe social space for the young people to enjoy.

A new, separate training kitchen is also being 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.