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Wolverhampton City Council, The Morgan Foundation and the charity OnSide have been instrumental in setting up the Wolverhampton Youth Zone charity, which is working on ambitious plans to create an iconic new facility for young people aged between 8 and 19.
The purpose built centre, on land between School Street, Worcester Street and Little Brickkiln Street, will offer a wide range of activities, including sport, fitness, dance, arts, music, media and self improvement.
Plans drawn up by HB Architects show an impressive 2 storey building featuring a 4 court sports hall with facilities for indoor tennis, badminton, football, netball and basketball and a separate climbing wall. There will also be a fitness suite with the latest gym equipment and 2 outdoor multi use games areas.
The £6 million centre will also have an outdoor recreation area, kitchen and café area selling healthy food and drink, multi purpose areas for dance, music, arts and crafts, gaming and DJ-ing, martial arts and boxing facilities.
There will be a Chill Out zone for relaxing, eating, drinking and entertainment and recreation area with pool table, small games and table football. Meanwhile, quiet rooms will be used to offer mentoring support, counselling, advice and enterprise activities.
The design work is continuing and it is hoped that construction could begin next year, with the centre opening for the first time in 2015.
Kathryn Morley, the Chief Executive of OnSide which has developed a network of Youth Zones in the North West of England, said: "This is a massive development - both in scale and in terms of what it will mean to young people - and we're delighted to have such committed partners in Wolverhampton; their determination to bring a Youth Zone to the city for the benefit of Wolverhampton's young people is truly inspiring."
Steve Morgan, Chairman of The Morgan Foundation, said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to make a really positive contribution to the lives of young people within Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. The Morgan Foundation is delighted to be working with Wolverhampton City Council and OnSide in helping to bring it forward."
Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: "Although we are still at an early stage, this is a hugely important project which will create a fantastic facility for our young people.
"They have been to visit some of the other Youth Zones which OnSide has established and are really excited about what they've seen and what we're planning for them here.
"Youth Zones have been shown to have a fantastic impact on the lives of young people and so we're determined to see those benefits in Wolverhampton, too."
Councillor Peter Bilson, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity, added: "The development of the Youth Zone is a tremendous opportunity to kick start our ambitious regeneration plans for the westside area of the city centre.
"It will create a vibrant focal point for young people, particularly as it will be next to the very popular and well used skate park at the Penn Road Island."
Councillor Elias Mattu, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, added: "We've developed some fantastic new leisure facilities in Wolverhampton over the last few years and I'm delighted that everyone is working hard to ensure that our young people will be getting a Youth Zone of their very own."
- released: Tuesday 2 July, 2013
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