The Community Trust today opened the Spireites Youth Hub in the town centre, with the aim of running diversionary workshops and activities for young people.
The hub is run in conjunction with Boots on Ground & Premier League Kicks, giving young people a safe space to grow their confidence and thereby make positive contributions to the community.
The hub was officially opened by the Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Mick Brady, alongside the chairman of the Trust, Mike Goodwin.
The Trust’s James Aspinall who has been working towards the opening of the hub, said: “Following the success of the Boots On Ground campaign, which has engaged with younger people and reduced anti-social behaviour over the last 18 months, now is the time to step-up our engagement and really make an impact on their lives to hopefully push them in a brighter direction for the future.”
On the day to day activities at the hub, Aspinall said: “We’ll be looking at healthy relationships, whether that be with family, social workers, schools, or peers. We’ll be looking at anti-social behaviour and getting the kids to understand it.
“We’ll also be looking at opportunities such as first-aid workshops, nail courses, so opportunities where they can get a qualification which can be used to boost a CV.”
Jayne Bacon, the Trust’s chief operating officer, said: “We need to engage with these young people, this is their town and our future.”
Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Mick Brady, said: “If you don’t give them an alternative then you end up with the problems that we’ve had. I can’t say how pleased I am with this.
“If you don’t provide some sort of an alternative then you really haven’t got any excuses. I can’t thank everybody enough who have contributed to this because there is such a desperate need.
“Most of the young people are really decent, they’re not out chucking bricks through windows and smashing up the town centre, they’re getting themselves into trouble because there isn’t an alternative, so I really hope this takes off.
“I’m really pleased, I know it’s not going to be the easiest gig in the world and it never is, but it’s the start.”
Chairman of the Spireites Trust, Mike Goodwin, said: “A big thank you to the Mayor and Mayoress for choosing us as their chosen charity, any funds that we get will be used very wisely.
“We’re really proud to be working in conjunction with Chesterfield Borough Council, local children’s services and the police. Everybody who has worked on this project with the Trust deserves great credit because there are a lot of issues around anti-social behaviour and this facility is fantastic.
“The trust is a fantastic organisation, it works not just with young people but right across the spectrum and I’m really proud of what it does.
“We now have a lot of organisations coming to us and asking to work with us and I think that’s a great reflection.”
The hub offers daily sessions on Monday – Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:45pm, with advice & signposting drop-ins available from 10am to 5:30pm on Fridays.
