£6m youth zone gets first founder patron
WIRRAL’S new £6m youth facility is fast becoming a reality with the news that a planning application to build The Hive Youth Zone, has been submitted to Wirral Borough Council for approval.
It follows the announcement that Capenhurst, Cheshire-based nuclear enrichment company, URENCO UK, will be the first founder patron of the Youth Zone.
The new Youth Zone is to be built on Exmouth St, adjacent to the new Fire Station, in the centre of Birkenhead.
Expected to open at the end of 2016, the facility will offer a wide range of activities for young people aged between eight and 19, up to 25 for those with a disability, including; dance, sport, music and media. The Hive will cost young people just 50p per visit.
The submission of a planning application is a significant milestone in the development of Wirral’s new Youth Zone and with URENCO now confirmed as the first Founder Patron, the exciting project for the young people of the town is taking shape.
John Syvret, chief executive of Cammell Laird Group and Wirral Youth Zone chair, said: “There has been a lot of hard work gone into getting the Youth Zone’s planning application ready and we are delighted to now be in a position to submit. The young people of Wirral are long overdue a youth facility of this standard and with the planning application now in place, we are now on the road to making the dream a reality.
“An equally important milestone is the confirmation that URENCO has agreed to support the Youth Zone’s mission to help transform the lives of young people in this borough and become the first Founder Patron.
“URENCO is a very successful company with strong community-led values. We’re incredibly grateful for their support and I am confident that it will not only be their financial investment that will help enable the Youth Zone’s success, but their strong CSR values will play a significant role as well.”
“URENCO already works hard at building strong relations with the communities in which it operates, supporting various local projects with charitable donations to providing educational support to local schools and colleges, to help encourage a better understanding of nuclear energy.
Steve Ball, head of human resources at URENCO said: “The Youth Zone model is a fantastic concept and we firmly believe that young people should have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of activities to help raise their aspirations and shape their future.
“Wirral Youth Zone is set to be a fantastic facility and we are delighted to be playing a part in helping the young people of Wirral gain access to new opportunities in a positive, supportive environment.”
Wirral Youth Zone is a new independent charity which will operate to the successful OnSide Youth Zones model. The Youth Zone will cost approximately £6m to build and £1m to run annually. Wirral Council is both a strategic partner and significant funder on the project.
A decision on the Youth Zone’s planning application is expected in the summer of 2015.
