Preston Youth Zone Set to Help the Young People of the City

The needs of young people are vital. Why? Because they are the next generation of working adults and a venue which caters of these needs is crucial to prevent crime and disorder. 

 

Recently, it has been approved that Preston City Council would provide the land for a Preston Youth Zone in a key city centre location. The site, adjacent to the bus station, off Lord Street, meets key criteria for successful youth zones. It provides a prominent but neutral location which is easily accessible by public transport and is an adequate size for the proposed development.

 

State of the art facilities will include:-

Organisers behind the Preston Youth Zone are hoping to design a building for young people to really thrive. It will be  the go to hub in the city and will seek to provide much needed skills, career and employment advice and the opportunity to discover new passions, forge friendships and develop as a young person in an environment that is inclusive, welcoming and exciting. 

 

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council revealed the good intentions for young people in the following statement, 

 

“The Youth Zone is a high priority for our city, and I am proud that the City Council is able to step in and provide the land needed, in a good location, to enable this exciting project to move forward. 

 

This project will support Preston’s young people, provide access to positive things to do in their community will not only improve their health and wellbeing and drive aspirations for adulthood but also support community cohesion and a vibrant Preston City Centre. 

 

While this is an essential next step, we continue to look to Lancashire County Council for much needed support for the on-going revenue costs of the Youth Zone”. 

 

The city centre Youth Zone, which will be run as an independent charity within the national OnSide Network, aims to support around 4,000 young people, and will create 70 permanent jobs, including 35 full time equivalent positions.

 

Preston Youth Zone is one of six major projects included within the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

 

This significant regeneration programme, which focuses on the delivery of culture, leisure, residential, infrastructure, community and education through regeneration within the city centre, is part of the overall Preston City Investment Plan.

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger