A NEW era is dawning for young people in Weymouth with the opening of a £3million youth hub.

The new Steps Club for Young People in Chickerell Road is a state-of-the-art facility, which will act as a support and advice centre for local youngsters as well as a base for a range of exciting activities.

It is the first full-time youth centre to be built in Dorset for more than 20 years.

An open day is being held today giving locals the chance to look round the premises.

The new building, which has been taking shape over the past year, has been four years in the planning and been made possible with a £3million myplace government grant, which has also funded improvements at Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre.

The new Steps will provide young people, primarily teenagers, with opportunities and support 11 hours a day, seven days a week. The programme includes daytime support for those most in need, advice, information and guidance sessions after school, open access youth club sessions in the evening and activity clubs.

Area Youth Worker Tom Lane said: “We believe our project will transform our community and inspire our young people for generations to come.”

He added: “The project has come to fruition through having a strong and ambitious vision and through a lot of hard work by so many people. The 11/7 programme aims to meet the varying needs of all young people and, while much of the programme will be available from day one, it will be developed fully over the first six months of operation.”

The project has been led by young people throughout.

Hazel Pritchard, 19, said: “Young people have led widespread consultation, worked on the original bid, liaised with the architects on the design and have formulated plans for the programme that will be available.

“We want to provide young people with the activities they want and the support they need.”

A new organisation, Weymouth Young People’s Union, will be launched this summer, enabling young people to continue to develop aspects of the project.

Lauryn Haskins, 13, added: “Young people elected to the Union will undertake a range of tasks through six Action Teams.”

The myplace funding was secured by Dorset County Council.

Cabinet member for Children’s Services Toni Coombs said the facility will be a ‘huge boost’ for the town.

The club is holding an open day today from 2pm to 7pm and will be open for young people from tomorrow. There will be an official opening later this year.

Opportunities and support at hand

THE new club will provide facilities, opportunities and support services for young people aged 11 to 25 – but is primarily for 13 to 19 year olds.

There are four elements to the new project: n A new building including a main youth centre area, sports hall, dance/performing arts studio, IT and film production studio, group room and café.

  • Refurbished and improved facilities at Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre, Knightsdale Road with plans to introduce activity clubs for young people at £1-a-go.
  • Through elections this summer, the launch of a new organisation called Weymouth Young People’s Union, empowering young people to be at the heart of organising the activities they want and the support they need.
  • An outstanding 11/7 programme of opportunities and support consisting of: n Targeted Youth Support – daytime programmes aimed at those young people who are most in need of additional support.
  • Universal Youth Support – open youth club sessions in the evenings with a programme that is designed to be educational, developmental and preventative n Advice, Information & Guidance – after-school drop-in sessions for individual young people to gain support with a range of issues including careers, housing, sexual health and drugs and alcohol.
  • Positive Activities – a wide range of after-school and weekend clubs for sports, performing arts and outdoor education.