'Much-needed' new £2m youth centre opens in Lincoln
The brand-new YMCA youth centre has been built next to where the old one sat in St Giles.
Children in Lincoln are set to benefit from a new 'much-needed' 2-million-pound youth centre that’s opened in St Giles.
Built next door to where the old youth centre sat before- northeast of the city centre- it includes meeting rooms, and a state-of-the-art sports hall for activities, particularly YMCA's beloved parkour sessions.
It’s open five days a week (Monday-Friday) from 15:30 for kids between the ages of 11 and 18.
Three years in the making, it was built next door to where the old youth centre sat- before it had to be demolished in 2016 after an arson attack.
Thanks to the Youth Investment Fund- which is governmental funding to create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services- they were able to spend £2m on renovations.
'Much-needed'
Leo Copsey, youth services manager for YMCA Lincolnshire said, "The most used words have been much needed.
"We can see it in the young peoples' faces.
"Suddenly, an evening of knocking about and making do with the ten-year-old football they might have has turned into excitement and 'I'm going to have a great evening'."
'Positive impact on each other'
Leo is optimistic about the benefits it'll bring to young people in the area.
"It's a place where they can come together, a place where they can make friends, a place where they can have a positive impact on each other.
"They can have a space where they can access trusted guidance and advice from trained adults- that's really important to us.
"There'll be sports, art, craft, clubs for absolutely everybody."
YMCA, which has similar youth centres elsewhere in the city, was given a 25-year tenancy for the building in January 2022.
'Take young people off the street'
Leo went on to say: "From our research, we know we've got a really keen generation of young people who are looking for things to do.
"When you're young, and you don't have purpose or any meaningful activities to engage in, your head looks to other places.
"This youth centre will take young people off the street, it will get them engaged in something purposeful.
"It'll build on their skills and confidence, and give them a chance to develop in mind, body, and spirit."
Leo said the facility will have "multiple uses", and won't function solely as a youth centre.
"During the quieter times of the day, the building becomes a multi-agency hub, and YMCA Lincolnshire is able to work with other agencies to provide the best possible start in life for children- whether that's social work, or CAMHS."
The facility can be found at St Giles Community Centre in Swift Gardens, while you can find out more about what YMCA do in the local area here.