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The gift of space for Buckland Youth Activity Centre

Buckland Youth Activity Centre (BYAC) has been given the gift of space with a new portable cabin.

It was provided by Portsmouth City Council and assembled and wired for free by construction, building and maintenance company Mountjoy and their sub-contractors.

The cabin can accommodate around 10-12 people and will provide space for training, homework, painting and craft sessions, counselling or even just a quiet chill-out zone.

Nigel Selley, the council's neighbourhood manager, said, “Our aim is to listen to what the community needs, and respond with a solution and this is a great example of that- I’m glad it’s been so successful.”

BYAC is based at the Charles Dickens Centre, an open-plan facility which opened in 2004 and offers activities for young people of Landport, Buckland and surrounding areas. Facilities include a pool table, table tennis, three computers with internet access, a coffee bar area, a kitchen area for cooking, music studio, outdoor seating area, an outdoor multi-use games area and an indoor sports hall on some nights.

Cllr Steven Wylie, the council's cabinet member for housing, said, “I’m delighted that we have this new resource for BYAC - I have really enjoyed working with everyone at the Charles Dickens Centre in the past and we will continue to grow and develop it into the future.”

The centre is also used by many different groups who use the sports hall, dance studio and messy art space as well as the recording studio, Rant Studio 1, which can be used for free by 12 to 19-year-olds as part of the City Wide Music Project.

Date : 14 October 2008

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