Centre for youngsters set to open

A YOUTH centre for young people in Cambridgeshire's newest community is very close to becoming a reality.

More than £60,000 funding has already been secured towards the building of a youth centre at Cambourne, offering an internet café and chill-out area for 11 to 19-year-olds.

The temporary building, near the skate park in Back Lane is expected to be up and running by the end of November.

On offer will be a range of activities for young people, including a youth club and educational activities. A number of youth workers, both full and part-time, will be based there.

Behind the £100,000 scheme is Cambourne Youth Partnership - an umbrella organisation for youth groups in the village which aims to address the need for out-of-school youth activities.

A spokesman from the partnership said he hoped additional funds would have been guaranteed by the end of September.

He said: "To date, funding has been secured from Cambourne Parish Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. We are expecting another £40,000 towards fitting out the building from other funders.

"We want the young people of Cambourne to know we haven't forgotten about them and that we hope the youth centre will be up and running by the end of November this year."

Cambourne Youth Partnership aims to address the need of out-of-school activities for children aged from four to 19, and up to the age of 25 for those with special needs or learning difficulties.

As reported in the Cambridge Evening News