Room 14 door opens (From The Advertiser Series)

Room 14 door opens

9:50am Friday 29th January 2010

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A YOUTH centre designed by the youngsters who use it has opened in a former pit village.

The £580,000 single storey extension built on the front of Pelton Youth and Community Centre will be home to activities ranging from music and dance to fitness and a drop-in centre.

As part of the youth work programme, young people will be able to take part in national award programmes including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Youth Achievement Award.

The main community centre has 13 rooms and the youngsters who helped draw up the plans named the extension Room 14.

The extension was funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Youth Capital Fund Plus (YCF+) programme and Durham County Council, including £20,000 from local Labour councillor Jim Cordon’s Neighbourhood Budget, which is for supporting schemes that benefit the community.

Ian Brady, head of the Youth Task Force at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, said: “The Youth Capital Fund Plus is an example of the huge investment the government is making in the lives of young people and their communities, helping to prevent problems such as anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking and low level crime by offering young people safe places to go and interesting things to do.

“I would really encourage the young people in Pelton to go along to the new community extension and find out what is on offer.”

Community association chairman Mick Rodgers said: “We have achieved what we set out to achieve with the help of a lot of people.

The new room will soon be in full swing.

“It has been hard work but well worth it. The room is absolutely fabulous and the standard of workmanship is excellent.”

North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones, who attended the opening ceremony with county council leader Simon Henig, said: “”I have no doubt that this project will be a huge success in engaging young people in Pelton and across the local area.”

Following the official opening the youngsters who use the new facility held an evening disco that featured a visit from World Ultimate Fighting Champion Ross Pearson, from Sunderland.

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