Youth centres to receive fresh makeover

More than £100,000 will be spent on upgrades to The Yard Youth Club in Darnhill, Milnrow Youth Club and Matthew Moss Youth Centre.

This comes thanks to grants provided by the government’s Better Youth Spaces Fund (£81,070) alongside £20,000 provided from Rochdale Borough Council’s capital budget.

Improvements at The Yard will include a fully refurbished kitchen and the creation of a new open café area to provide an even better communal space for young people to share and enjoy when they visit.

Funding will also be used at Milnrow Youth Centre to refurbish its bathroom facilities, while Matthew Moss Youth Centre will benefit from new flooring areas, as the council works to ensure these facilities are well used and cherished.

Work on the youth centres is expected to be completed by May 2026 but that’s not all that will be new for Rochdale Youth Service.

Further funding will also be spent on a brand-new minibus to support the service in continuing to take young people on fantastic outdoor trips to locations such as south Wales and Scotland, as its current bus enters retirement.

Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said:

“Our youth centres are incredibly well liked, and they provide a warm, fun and welcoming environment for our young people to use, share and enjoy with their peers.

“The experiences they create here make lasting memories in their childhoods. Whether that be making new friends and being involved in fun weekly activities or learning new skills and participating in wider groups and opportunities that help them to grow as individuals.

“I am absolutely delighted we can expand and improve our existing offer for them as it will help our young people to create even more cherished memories with each other.

“I really look forward to seeing the impact these improvements will have in their future as we continue to give them the best start in life and thank you to our grant providers for helping us to make this happen.”

The borough’s youth service and youth workers provide activities and support for young people aged 11 to 19 years old.

From playing games such as pool and table tennis to taking part in a number of different activities like outdoor education, cooking, team games and challenges, the borough’s youth clubs are really important in helping young people to step out of their comfort zone, meet new people and have new experiences.

They also provide a comfortable space for them to build positive relationships with youth workers who can provide them with support and guidance about any issues or concerns they may have.

Anyone who would like to be more involved in their local youth centre can find out more about Rochdale Youth Servce.