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Home What is Walsall's New Deal? Themes Area Map Newsletter Project Updates Staff Events New Deal Documentation Links Job Vacancies Contact Site Map |
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On Wednesday 24th October at 12.00hrs Walsall's New Deal with assistance from Hollyoaks stars Chris Fountain, who plays Justin Burton and Emma Rigby who plays Hannah Ashworth; will be officially opening the new Young Person's information Centre on Ingram Road, Blakenall, Walsall. Young People involved in Walsall's New Deal Youth Council are so pleased with their centre that they wanted a high profile opening for their centre, and decided that 'Hannah' and 'Justin' fitted the bill perfectly. Shane Best a member of New Deal's Youth Council said; "The stars from Hollyoaks will be the icing on the cake for our project, the initial idea for the centre came out of consultation workshops and events with us and we have seen this project through from start to finish; we are very pleased with the final result". Mrs. Jean Jevons Chair of the Community Empowerment Theme who has been the 'champion' for this project since its inception 2 years ago said; "I have really enjoyed working with the young people from our area on this project. I know that young people will make great use of this excellent community resource that has been designed by them around their needs and wants". Prior to development the building that stands on a prominent site, on the corner of Ingram Road and Stanley Street, was in a state of considerable disrepair, over the last nine months the building has been totally refurbished and now that the work is complete services for young people are being delivered from the centre. The centre will provide young people, aged 11 - 19, within the New Deal and surrounding areas, easier access to services provided in one central location within their neighbourhood. It will not only offer activities on site but also will sign post young people to other opportunities that are available to them across the borough, breaking down the geographical barriers and encouraging them to investigate the opportunities that are available to them. The centre's focus will be to raise the aspirations of young people by offering easier access to services. It will house several projects that will complement each other, I.T. centre (E-Learning), Café, Training Kitchen, Mini College, Health and Wellbeing Clinic and Careers advice. Nicola Holmes, Centre Manager said; "The young people are very excited to be meeting the people from Hollyoaks". The new centre will be open Monday - Saturday for the following hours,
For more information you can contact Nicola or a member of the New Deal youth team on 01922 443 440 Ends..... Editors notes: This is initiative has been solely funded by Walsall's New Deal with the refurbishment of buildings costing £741,000 and furnishing £61,000.00. For Photo opportunities please contact Andy Bradley or Sally Gamston on 01922 712858 For more information about the Young Person's information Centre please contact Nicola Holmes, Centre Manager on 01922 443440 For more information about the Community Empowerment Team please contact Michelle Parry on 01922 711228. For more information about Emma Rigby or Chris Fountain please go to: Chris Fountain or Emma Rigby. Walsall's New Deal for Communities is a regeneration initiative working in the areas of Blakenall, Bloxwich and Leamore. The initiative received a £52 million Government grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) to be spent on sustainable regeneration spread over a ten year period that commenced 2001. |
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