New Darwen youth centre has wow factor

The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Jim Hirst will officially open the new Darwen youth centre next week.

The former Knott Street Community Centre has undergone a £400,000 refurbishment after receiving funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

A new IT suite, an all-weather pitch, an interactive white board and games screen, a dance studio and a meeting room are all included in the newly refurbished centre and young people from the Darwen and rural area have already been meeting there to try out the facilities.

Councillor Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture and play champion for the borough, said: "It's great to see the youth club up and running. Young people have already been experimenting with the new equipment and it's proving a great success.

"This new facility certainly has the wow factor and it's good for youngsters to have something to do on Friday and Saturday nights."

There will be a seven days a week programme until 10pm for youths aged 13 to 19, including dance sessions, games nights, and skills classes for young people not in education, employment, or training.

And sessions for young people up to the age of 25 years will be available for youngsters who have a disability or are leaving care of the local authority.

Additionally there will be play projects as part of the Council's 'Off For Fun' programme during school holidays, which will provide play provision for children aged five to eight and nine to 14 years.

Provision for young people aged up to 19 is also part of this programme.

The Mayor will be joined by Councillor Law-Riding to officially open the centre at 2pm on Wednesday February 24.