New youth centre keeps mayor out of mischief

YOUNGSTERS took centre stage as a £300,000 youth club they helped design was officially opened.

They can flock to the Wildmoor Avenue centre in Holts six nights a week to enjoy activities including table tennis, pool and dance.

Young people aged from eight to 23 will also be able to use a fully-equipped kitchen and computer suite.

The opening is in time for the long winter nights, with staff planning junior youth groups and family activities.

It will also house the Alexandra Youth Inclusion Project, which engages marginalised young people most at risk of causing anti-social behaviour.

Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle did the honours along with Mayoress Kay Knox. They were aided by Oldham’s Youth Mayor, Mohammed Adil, who dropped in to lend a hand.

And the 20-year-old was delighted with what he saw.

He said: “Having a new youth centre like this is massive. Everything I have achieved comes from going to the youth centre at the Lyceum building.

“You can just go to the youth centre to meet your friends and have a good time, but there are also lots of opportunities if you want them.

“I wouldn’t be the Youth Mayor now and training to be a youth officer if I hadn’t had those opportunities.”

The centre received a £200,000 Youth Capital Fund Plus (YCF+) grant as part of Aiming High for young people, a Government initiative that’s invested £679 million to provide young people with positive activities.

Similar grants have let 50 local authorities put in new or refurbished youth facilities where they’re most needed to provide a safe and stimulating environment, involving young people in their planning.

It also received council funding and follows the council’s successful Passport to Summer scheme where holiday activities resulted in a 27 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour.

Neil Consterdine, the council’s head of integrated youth, said: “It will be a fantastic resource for young people in this area. The centre has a lot of potential and we are going to let young people lead the way in how they want to use it.”

Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, said: “This will give young people a place to socialise, where they can also get advice and support, as well as enjoy exciting activities.

“I’m especially pleased that young people from Oldham have had a hands-on role in developing this new centre.

“The Government will continue to make youth provision a top priority.”

Anne Weinstock, director of the Youth Taskforce said: “The YCF+ is an example of the huge investment the Government is making in the lives of young people and their communities, helping to prevent problems such as anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking and crime by offering young people safe places to go and interesting things to do.”

For details of activities in Oldham, visit www.direct.gov.uk/getinvolved.