MyPlace

Plans for a new world-class youth centre in Bridgwater that will boast a range of sports and fitness activities, from climbing to water sports, have been given the go-ahead with a grant of almost £4 million from the government.

The funding is a result of a successful bid by Bridgwater YMCA to the Government’s myplace programme, and will see the new project - called Access All Areas - built on it’s Frian Avenue site over the next two years.

With a focus on sports and outdoor activities, the centre will feature an indoor climbing wall, an outdoor watersports area, a health and fitness suite, a sports hall and multi-use games area. However, it will also offer a wide range of non-sporting activities, including a community radio station to be managed by young people, a café area, a community recording studio and conferencing facilities.

The youth-designed venue – which will be open seven days a week - will be carbon neutral, using solar panels, wind turbines and biofuel to generate energy and reduce its carbon footprint.

Alongside staff from the YMCA, a range of agencies such as Connexions, Sedgemoor PCT and Sedgemoor District Council will also use the facility as platform to offer young people a range of advice on issues such as housing, careers and health and wellbeing.

Bridgwater YMCA is leading the project in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council; Sedgemoor Learning Alliance; Sedgemoor and Mendip Schools Sports Alliance Avon Somerset Police; The Foyer Federation; and Sedgemoor Local Service Team.

Martin Hodgson at Bridgwater YMCA said: ’We are all very excited, a great deal of work has gone into the planning of this project’ ‘the YMCA has been in Bridgwater since 1878 and on our present site since 1967, this development ensures that we can continue the legacy of offering fantastic opportunities to the young people and wider community of Bridgwater ‘

The myplace programme is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). It is funding world-class projects across England that are working to create safe places for young people to go, where they can get involved in a wide range of exciting activities and get information and advice from people they trust.

All projects funded through myplace have actively involved young people in their design and development, and will continue to involve them in their future running.

Driven by the active participation of young people, myplace is part of the Government’s Aiming High strategy. The ten-year youth strategy was announced in July 2007 to help young people, particularly those in deprived areas, take part in positive activities that will help them develop new skills and raise their aspirations.