Colchester Council confirms start dates for youth centre improvements

Three youth centres in the city are set to be transformed using part of a £19.2million boost for Colchester from the government’s Towns Fund.

More than £1.3million has been allocated to the three projects, with £1million being spent on the Townhouse in Colchester city centre and £320,000 being split between youth centres in Stanway and Highwoods.

Stanway Youth Centre is next to Stanway School in Winstree Road (Image: Google)

Colchester Council documents reveal plans for the sites, which were produced with the help of youngsters in the city, have been approved and contractors have been appointed.

What is the money being spent on?

The flagship project at the Townhouse in West Stockwell Street will start in May and is expected to finish in September.

The centre will be fully redecorated while improvements are set to be made to its sports hall.

A teaching kitchen, recording studio, garden area, and storage facilities will also be installed and the building’s electrical systems will be updated.

Work costing £150,000 at Highwoods Youth Centre, in Highwoods Approach, is set to start later this month and is expected to finish in May.

Stanway Youth Centre, in Winstree Road, will benefit from improvements costing £170,000 which will be carried out between July and August.

'Improving life chances'

Colchester Council hopes the investments will “improve the life chances of Colchester’s young people”.

When the plans were discussed by the authority’s cabinet members in 2022, the council hoped the improvements to the Townhouse would create 21 full-time equivalent jobs.

It also hoped to be able to provide work and life skills sessions and one-to-one support services for 250 young people.

The projects are being managed by Essex County Council, the authority responsible for youth services in the county.

Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell is pleased youth centres out of the city centre are benefitting from improvements.

Pleased - Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell (Image: Steve Brading)

She said: “People from the west of Colchester would come into Stanway because they can cycle here but to get into the city centre they rely on buses or their parents. That’s why it’s important to have something in the west of Colchester; it’s so much more accessible.

“The building in Stanway will be improved and will become more fit for purpose which is great.

“When I used to go there regularly, there was a café but it needed some TLC. It’ll be great for the people who use it because the facilities will be improved.”