South Leeds Youth Hub is a new centre for young people is about to open in Belle Isle. Guest blogger Lucy Chadwick gives us a preview.
Young people in south Leeds will soon have something to do, somewhere to go, someone to talk to and something to say, thanks to a new development on the site of the old Merlyn Rees High School between Belle Isle Road and Middleton Road.
Built and owned by Leeds City Council and paid for by the government, the South Leeds Youth Hub is an exciting youth centre for the whole of south Leeds.
Designed according to young people’s views and opinions, the Hub will be a safe and secure space filled with inspirational activities for young people between the ages of 11-19 from across the whole of south Leeds.
A wide variety of exciting and beneficial activities will be on offer such as a motorbike and go-kart workshop, a hair and beauty salon, an art studio, jobs and careers advice, music and media studio, health clinics, a garden and lots more. These activities and services will be delivered by local organisations and will help young people find work, keep healthy, improve their education and most importantly have fun.
Young people have been and will continue leading the project by making suggestions and decisions about what they want and through their involvement in the planning and running of the new centre. Local residents have also been consulted to ensure that security, privacy and reducing anti-social behaviour in the area surrounding the Hub are our priority.
Building work is now complete and we are currently in the process of putting in all of the fixtures, fittings and equipment, making the Hub into a state of the art youth centre that we can all be proud of.
We’d love you to get involved in what we’re doing. Have you got some time or specific skills that you think could help make a difference at the Hub? Perhaps you’re a young person who wants to get involved in some of the groups currently working on things like the website, interior design, equipment or outdoor gardens? Do you want to help make important decisions on the project? If you’re interested, call the Hub Hotline on 0113 385 5606.
To keep-up-to date with our progress join our Facebook page; search for “South Leeds Hub” on Facebook.