NEWS RELEASES
Horsham will be delighted to have a new Y Centre
23rd January 2004
A GREAT deal of research went into the needs of young people in the Horsham district before it was decided to go-ahead with the new £4.2 million Y Centre.
Consultations with many different organisations, as well as groups of young people, confirmed - amongst other things - an acute lack of affordable homes for rent and only limited assistance available for younger people seeking somewhere to live.
Those findings have been reinforced by a group of five young members of HYPER, the Horsham Youth Council, who decided to undertake their own investigation into the needs for a Y Centre, recording their work on video.
Their conclusion was unanimous: the new centre, to be built at the corner of Springfield Road and Albion Way, will provide a haven for many young people, helping them to stand on their own feet and giving them opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. The young researchers dug deep for information, including interviewing the Bishop of Horsham, the Horsham MP, the chief executive of the district council and the president of the national YMCA.
Better still, they went to Guildford, where a similar centre is run, to meet with former residents who spoke of lives being transformed by just a short stay.
For a variety of reasons, many youngsters leave home early these days and finding good accommodation is not easy and very expensive. Horsham Y Centre will not only provide young people with quality living space at an affordable rent, it will have a warm and welcoming atmosphere in which experienced adults will be available to assist them with running a budget, job training and obtaining new skills.
Each of the 41 studio flats will have a bathroom, kitchen and internet connection. Whilst catering mainly for people in the 18 to 30 age group, it is expected that a few 16 to 17 year-olds will be included, usually after council referral.
Exploratory work on the site, which used to be part of the old Horsham gasworks, began this month and the main contractors will move in within a matter of weeks, once the new Blackhorse Way car park is open. A 52 week building programme will conclude with opening in the Spring of 2005.
The construction has some revolutionary features, including the use of sustainable timber approved by the Forest Stewardship Council and solar panels which convert solar energy into electricity for which a 60% grant has been received from the Government. This power will be used within the Y Centre and surplus amounts sold to the National Grid. It is expected that the design will attract much attention and the YMCA will be seeking a much prized EcoHomes certificate from the Building Research Establishment.
The sum of £3.9 million for building cost has come from Government grant, however Horsham YMCA, who will manage the centre, has the considerable task of raising a further £300,000 to pay for furniture and fittings, and to provide conference and café facilities to be shared with the community.
If you would like to sponsor or assist the Y Centre, or would like someone to give your organisation a presentation about it, please contact project manager Alex Cloke through the council's housing services department on (01403) 215207.
Ends
Councillor Vivien Lyth, The Chairman, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RH.
E-mail: contactchairman@horsham.gov.uk
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549