Riverside - Riverside Housing fund local youth centre

Local housing provider, Riverside Housing, Midlands Division has given £5000 in funding towards the new youth centre in Hamilton, Leicester.

Over the past few months a disused building has been converted into a youth centre for young people, through a partnership between the local community group, Hope Hamilton Church and Tesco.

Resident and Riverside Housing Tenant Board Member, Lee Springthorpe, has been working closely with Hope Hamilton Church to get the new youth facilities up and running for youngsters in Hamilton.

Lee encouraged the Hope Hamilton Church to apply for a Community Chest grant in April this year, which was used to provide equipment and get the building fully functional.

The new centre called The Unit provides after school and youth club facilities and is open two days a week including Fridays. It provides a base for 11 to 18 year olds to socialise and take part in activities. It has a pool table, playstation, table tennis, coffee bar, lighting rig, sound system and projector TV and DVD.
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Lee said: “Since I moved to this area, I found that there weren’t many activities that young people could take part in. This youth facility will be an incentive for young people in the Hamilton area and I am delighted to help with the application.”

An opening ceremony of the new youth centre took place in November with Riverside Housing, Board members, Bishop of Leicester Tim Stevens, Chief Constable Matt Baggott, councillors and church leaders present at the ribbon cutting and plaque presentation.

Rupa Chandarana, Community Projects Co-ordinator said: “Lee identified a need in his local community and was able to use the funding we offer as a way of meeting it.

“The Community Chest Fund is available for residents and local community groups to raise funds to set up or refurbish community facilities and organise activities.”

For more information on the Community Chest Fund please contact Rupa Chandarana on 0845 111 0000.