Charity puts youngsters at heart of new hub

Staff at a charity behind the construction of a new youth hub in Barnsley have said they want young people to "know they're worth it".

The two-storey Base71 building on Schwabisch Gmund Way was expected to open its doors in January next year and could be used by up to 4,000 young people every year, according to the Onside charity.

The £9.2m building, located opposite Barnsley's railway station, would contain spaces for a number of activities and sports, as well as facilities for wellbeing sessions and life skills classes, an Onside spokesperson said.

Emily Magdij, from the charity, said: "We're led by what young people want - it needs to be a two-way conversation."

At a preview event this week, Ms Magdij, Onside's regional communications manager, said: "If you're not providing young people what they want, they're not going to take advantage of what you're giving them."

She added that the building would contain "state-of-the-art facilities", such as an indoor climbing wall, a rooftop football pitch, a recording studio for music and podcasting, and arts and crafts workshops.

"We want young people to know that they're worth it", Ms Magdij explained.

According to Onside, the Base71 building would serve young people aged between eight and 19, or up to the age of 25 for those with additional needs.

David Barton, Onside's trustee and head of openings, said it would give young people "somewhere safe to go, supported by brilliant youth workers".

Entry to the hub would cost 50p, but staff would "never let a young person not come in", Mr Barton said.

Meanwhile, Matthew Stevens, chair of the trustee board, said he believed young people had previously been "left behind" in Barnsley.

"We're so excited by the opportunities this will bring for our new people. It's not just about coming in and playing football on the roof, it's things like employability," he said.

Mandy Carlson, Base71 chief executive, said other youth hubs being run by the charity were averaging an attendance of 200 youngsters every night.

Ms Carlson said the charity wanted to "reach young people who are worried about coming to town, coming out of their rooms, or who have just got out of the habit because of Covid".

"We will be looking to see how we can best support those people to get here - and enjoy their time when they are here," she said.

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