Young people in Islington will be reaping the benefit of a £2.5 million cash injection into youth services.
Islington Council has been awarded the money to develop a series of youth 'hubs' across the borough, each one offering a range of services and activities under one roof.
The White Lion Youth Centre in Barnsbury will be one of the major beneficiaries of the Government funding, receiving £2 million in addition to the £1.1 million already set aside by the council to redevelop the centre.
The investment will transform the centre into a first-class building bringing together a wide range of services to keep local young people safe, positively engaged and healthy. This includes youth offending, social services, child and adolescent mental health services, voluntary organisations and sexual health and teenage pregnancy services. The centre will focus on early intervention, providing tailor-made packages of support to young people and their families who need it most.
Alongside the targeted services, a number of exciting and engaging positive activities will also continue to be offered for young people, including sports and fitness and media and IT classes.
Islington Council’s Executive Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Paula Belford said:
“The council's White Lion Centre has long been committed to providing young people with high quality support and guidance and a wide range of positive activities to take part in.
“Investment was already planned for the centre, but this extra funding means we can go further and make a real difference to the life chances of local young people.
“The redeveloped centre will offer important, high quality services all under one roof, making it easier for young people and their families to find out what support is available and encouraging them to become actively engaged in their community.”
The funding comes from the Government’s ‘Co-Location’ fund, which is backing a wide range of projects across the country, to deliver vital investment in integrated facilities. The redevelopment project at the White Lion Centre fits into the council’s aim of creating a range of youth hubs across the borough, which will all deliver a range of important services and positive activities for young people.
ENDS.
Page Last Updated: 24 June 2009