FURD
FURD, its partner organisations and young people in the area have received a major boost with the news that our bid to build a new purpose built youth centre has been successful. The funding is being provided by the government's Department for Children, School and Families under the Myplace programme to fund a new generation of facilities enabling the provision of positive activities for young people in a safe and supportive environment.
'The People's Place', (its working title) is a local authority led project, co-ordinated by the Sharrow Partnership. It will be an innovative four-way partnership between Sheffield City Council, Lowfield Primary School, FURD and The Hub African Caribbean Centre. The building will be next to Lowfield Primary School.
The site will provide a much-needed new base for FURD and The Hub as well as facilities for young people that are currently lacking in the area. The building will house the latest technology, a suite of dance, fitness and gym space, training and chilling area/café, performing arts space, recording space, changing rooms, multi-purpose space for positive activities, computer suite with access to software not normally available to young people , such as photoshop, CAD software etc, and private counselling/meeting rooms, and will be an access point to a wide range of affordable sporting, health, outdoor and cultural activities. Externally there will be a secure artificial football pitch suitable for 2 five-a-side football pitches and other sporting facilities, plus grass spaces, areas for cultivation by young people, and free-to-use fitness and exercise equipment on a trail suitable for all ages and abilities.
The facility is part of a wider school redevelopment and is part of the broader development of the Sharrow area. Extensive consultations have already taken place with young people and the wider community, and young people will continue to be involved at all stages of the building and running of the centre.
“Young people have expressed some good ideas and showed considerable amount of interest regarding this state-of-the-art facility”, said FURD's Voice and Influence Participation Worker Jahanzaib Ali.
Local young person Jarvis Salmon, aged 18, said, "I think it's great that we're having a properly resourced centre in our area for young people. It will hopefully provide young people with lots of support in getting a job and access into other activities".