Two Knowsley community youth centres ‘cut the ribbon’ on renovations

Two Knowsley community youth centres celebrated the completion of extensive renovation works last week with special re-launch events. The major renovations, funded by the Youth Investment Fund, mean that they can reach more young people and will ensure the centres are there for future generations of young people to enjoy.

Karma in the Community, based in at the Mosscroft Community Centre in Huyton, and Halewood Youth and Community Centre (known as The Boyzee) were awarded funding earlier this year to help them improve the service for young people, giving them more opportunities to have fun, make friends, explore their passions and gain vital skills for life.

Knowsley Council working in partnership with One Knowsley secured more than £3.7m in Youth Investment Fund grants to improve youth services in the borough. The grants are benefitting four different projects that support young people. Two projects have now opened their doors to children and young people and others across the community.

The Boyzee received more than £700,000 to replace their roof, upgrade heating and ventilation systems and replace the entrance doors.

Karma in the Community were awarded just over £420,000 to remodel rooms and refurbish the toilets, install a new sustainable heating system, replace windows and doors, and install a new flat roof covering.

Now complete, the works will allow young people to take part in recreational, vocational, and social activities that will aim to improve employability, reduce anti-social behaviour, and improve inclusion in priority wards and neighbourhoods of Knowsley. Additionally, the refurbished community centres will also attract inward investment to drive future sustainability.

Cllr David Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said:

“Youth services are so important to nurturing and supporting the children and young people growing up in our Borough, but offering great programs can be tough without proper facilities.

“It’s wonderful to see what Karma in the Community and The Boyzee have managed to accomplish with funding from the Youth Investment Fund and I’m excited to see how these improved youth services will benefit our young people for years to come.”

Sheila Dodd from Karma in the Community said:

“The works we have been able to undertake thanks to the Youth Investment fund have given us a much nicer space with better facilities and we’d like to thank everyone who has supported us during this development period.

“We want this to be a safe space, where young people from the area can come and socialise with their friends. At the minute it is a blank canvas, and we are consulting with the local youth community to get their views and opinions on what they would like this space to be, what it should look like, what activities and information they would like to be able to access so that they can build a club and a space that they want to be part of now, and in the future.”

All photos are credited to Knowlsey Council.