Youth centre celebrates £238k lottery windfall
Chris Maddox/Hill Street Youth and Community CentreA community centre has secured £238,740 from the National Lottery Community Fund to expand its support for children and young people.
The funding will enable Hill Street Youth and Community Centre in Rugby to launch a four-year programme later this month, designed to give young people more opportunities to learn new skills, build confidence and spend time together.
New free activities will be introduced at the centre as part of the Rugby:THRIVE project, including a children's club on Tuesdays and an open access youth club on Fridays.
Development officer Chris Maddox described the grant as "incredible", and said it came at a vital time for Rugby as the town was "struggling".
'Great opportunity'
Maddox told BBC CWR that the open access youth club and the children's club will be the first free activities to launch from the funding.
After the October half term an arts and crafts section will be introduced at the centre, followed by a sports and performing arts programme after Christmas.
"Everything we are going to offer to everyone is going to be free to attend - we are trying to take away those barriers," Maddox said.
He added that the funding will make Rugby "very fortunate" as a town because it will mean that "young people will be able to access something five, six, seven days a week".
The programme at the centre, located in the town centre, will continue to develop in response to the interests and needs of local children, young people and families.
Sarah Thompson, chair of the centre, said: "Rugby:THRIVE is a great opportunity to build on the work we're already doing and create even more opportunities for children, young people and families in our community.
"We want it to be something the community helps shape and feels part of."
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