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Preston Youth Zone partners, patrons, trustees and board members were invited to look around the new site in the city centre, opposite Preston Bus Station.
Known as The Vault, the building is set to open later this year with sights set for November. Once finished it will be able to hold up to 250 young people at one time, aged from eight years old to 19.
Those involved, including a handful of young people and the Mayor of Preston councillor Phil Crowe, were invited to see the progress so far. They were also able to hear from the young people themselves, as well as Tim Jacques, chief executive officer.
Tim said he felt “emotional” being able to see how the building had progressed.
“This is where we want young people to come and just be young people. To do the things that young people should be doing – having fun, playing games, learning, supporting, meeting new people.
“There’s no doubt about it Preston’s young people need this.
“It’s quite an emotional moment getting in the building after all this time. But, it’s here and it’s happening! It’s the first time most of us have been inside the building as the work has progressed.
“What they offer here is going to be absolutely sensational. For only 50p young people will have access to everything that this building has to offer and that’s not even the best bit.
“The best bit is the supported youth work – helping them to overcome whatever challenges that they’re facing in life at the moment.”
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Jules, 17 from Penwortham and Adonae, 15 from Cottam were amongst the group touring the site. They are both most excited about the huge sports hall, with Adonae being a keen basketball player.
Jules said: “It’s been amazing to see the youth zone and finally go in and see how big it is. It’s really good to see what it’s finally getting somewhere. Most rooms have walls and you’re able to walk around and see the whole youth zone.”
Adonae added: “I think having a youth zone in going to give a lot of young people a place to go because there are many problems in Preston – mental health and just people having nothing to do in general.
“It’s going to give a lot of people somewhere to go, somewhere to chat to trusted adults and just a place to do something with their friends.”
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The youth zone is part of the OnSide charity which operates dozens of youth zone buildings across the country including one in Chorley.
As part of the day people also heard from Alfie, a young person who started attending Inspire, the youth zone in Chorley which turned his life around.
He said: “I was struggling with my mental health – going to school, coming home – that was it.
“A teacher suggested I went to Inspire and I thought ‘I’m not going there’ I walked past and was shocked about how good it looked, I thought this is my opportunity to really make something of myself.
“My mental health started improving then I became a young leader. I was helping out on junior sessions – never thought i wanted to work with young people but I gave back to community for support I’ve been given.
“I started volunteering at Inspire once turned 18 then my heart was set on it – completed level 2 course then started working on junior sessions. Now I oversee the recreational area, it’s so good to see all the young people leave with smiles on their faces.”
With work still underway at Preston’s youth zone, the team are still recruiting. There will be up to 60 staff with a mix of full-time, part-time and volunteer roles.
They are also exploring with bus firms whether cheaper or later buses can be put on to ensure young people can get home once it closes in the evening.
Plans for a Youth Zone in the city centre date back more than a decade, with scrapped schemes for Marsh Lane and then the Bus Station concourse as the building became a political row between successive Labour and Conservative administrations in County Hall. Funding was eventually secured as part of the Preston Towns Fund bid in the early 2020s with more than £20million pumped into major schemes in the city and the patch of land between Lancaster Road and Tithebarn Street identified as the new home for the Youth Zone.
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