YMCA unveils plans to build £14million youth & community centre
September 30, 2008 11:56 PM
Diagramof YMCA plan
The YMCA has unveiled plans for a landmark £14million youth & community centre on Broadwater Road.
The planned centre would provide a swimming pool, extensive sports facilities including a climbing wall, skate park, activity studios, multimedia and recording facilities - with free access for all young people.
The YMCA has bid for £5million from the government's MyPlace funding programme towards the costs of the centre - MyPlace was launched in May 2008 to provide grants towards the capital costs of new world-class facilities for young people.
Young people have been extensively involved in the design of the centre and will continue to play a key role in the management and development of the facilities.
The YMCA has been working closely with Youth Connexions and aims to bring together a range of services for young people within the centre from health & wellbeing to information advice and guidance about courses and vocational training.
The extensive facilities will be available to the whole community during school hours, but priority will be given to young people after 3pm and at weekends.
Commenting on the project, YMCA Chief Executive, Robin Webb, said "We have been working on developing a new activity venue for young people for some time and the launch of the MyPlace funding programme was an un-missable opportunity to bring forward our plans and kick-start the funding for the centre.
Ideally this centre would form part of the redevelopment of the Broadwater Road site, but the timing of that development remains uncertain - as a result we are looking to locate the centre on the old Roche car park site which is currently up for sale"
Responding to Tesco's plans to build a swimming pool, Robin Webb said "Many people in Welwyn Garden City have campaigned for years for a pool and we have included a pool in our planned youth & community centre in response to this demand.
If Tesco are keen to invest in a pool for the people of Welwyn Garden City then we would be delighted to work with them to see their generous contribution to the community form part of our major new youth & community centre."
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The outcome of the YMCA's application for £5million from MyPlace won't be known until the new year - in the meantime they will continue to develop their plans for the centre.
Notes for editors
For more information contact:
Robin Webb, Chief Executive YMCA Central Herts
01707 351410
robin.webb@centralhertsymca.org.uk
YMCA Central Herts is a registered charity (no.1065875) that provides supported accommodation and personal development programmes helping some of the most vulnerable people in society develop life skills and move towards independent living. It also provides a range of children's services and a youth work programmes.
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