News
Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Plans Given the Green Light for New £3m Youth Centre
Plans to build a new £3m youth centre in Banbury were approved last month by Oxfordshire County Councillors, after a successful bid was made to the Government’s Co-location Fund. The building, which will provide state of the art facilities and access to vital services for young people and their families, has been hailed as one of the biggest projects of its kind in the country.
Around 50 young people took part in a consultation on the building’s new design, and their involvement is set to continue through the establishment of a new Youth Forum. The Forum will enable young residents to manage the centre alongside the Council’s Integrated Support Youth Service, giving them the opportunity to decide what activities will be on offer once the new building opens next year.
The New Futures Centre will house a performance hall with stage, music practice rooms, an art room with a pottery kiln, a fitness suite, a workshop and a café-style “chill out” area. Outside plans are also being drawn up for an all-weather court for basketball and football. It is hoped that the new building will become a focal point for the community, by providing a meeting point for local residents, youth workers, health workers and specialist advisers.
