Inspire’s Youth Centre in Hadleigh has completed the first phrase of its renovation thanks to a grant from Babergh District Council Community Grants.
The Porch Project team worked alongside the young people that use the centre, asking them for their input in how they wanted to use the space, and letting their choices influence the redesign.
Alongside an updated quiet room, new furniture, TVs and consoles, there’s also a multigame table which includes tabletop hockey, pool table and table tennis unit all in one.
The centre has also been rebranded in new paint colours that focus on using more calming undertones, and change the psychology of the environment. When it came to painting, the team received help from some of the centre’s young people who volunteered their time, as well as volunteers from Sizewell C.
Speaking about why it’s so important to have the center’s attendees involved, youth worker Karl said: “Youth centres are their space and setting, and they should control the environment. It’s their space and they can feel they took ownership of it, it’s a safe space for them to interact in.”
He added: “It’s about investing in the youth, we’re showing we do care and we’re giving them different opportunities. It provides facilities and amenities in terms of SEN provision.
“We wanted to utilise the space we have here, we needed to optimise it in a way that works in a youth centre setting.”
Project co-ordinator Jay added: “Since we’ve taken over Porch Project, everything we’ve had has been passed down and it’s time to redo things for the young people. We’ve made a better quiet room with more things to do.
It’s going to make them feel more valued having more stuff, we do care about them, that’s why we’re doing this.”
The second stage of the renovation will take place next year, and see the downstairs of the centre being renovated, with new furniture meaning the space can be utilised better to open up new opportunities for the people that attend.
