Allendale Youth Club has received £55,144.00 as part of the UK Government's Youth Investment Fund to rebuild or refurbish youth and community centres across the country.
The Youth Club offers a range of activities to young people from the local rural area, running engaging programmes designed to equip them with the skills they need for later life.
The funding is part of a £300 million package over two years to improve local facilities and aims to support an extra 45,000 young people into youth clubs and centres.
Allendale Youth Club received the extra funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the third tranche of the scheme, which will provide over £90 million to projects in the UK.
The grant will go towards dealing with the damp inside parts of the building, provide a brand-new kitchen, new floor throughout, food preparation, and a new toilet facility. When the works are completed, a brand-new cookery programme for young people will be set up. It is expected that the grant will attract an additional 40 youth club members.
Local Member of Parliament, Guy Opperman, visited the Youth Club last week. Commenting on the extra funding, Mr Opperman said:
'This Government grant will be truly transformational for the life chances and outcomes of local young people here in Allendale.
Coming from a rural background myself, I know how important it is to have access to local facilities, particularly at a young age. It was a pleasure to visit the Youth Club to see first-hand the difference this funding will make to life chances for children in and around Allendale.
I want to thank Julie Humes and the team at the Youth Club who work so hard to provide to ensure this warm and welcoming space serves as the heart of the local community.'
Julie Humes, Project Manager at Allendale Youth Ambition said:
'We were over the moon to be awarded this grant from the Youth Investment Fund, which will see our kitchen and toilet area completely transformed.
'Over the years, we have managed to make the youth centre welcoming and comfortable, but this will be the largest capital investment we have ever had.
'When the work is completed, our young people will be able to do lots more cooking and baking, and we intend to run a course on making healthy meals on a budget - which will prepare the young people for independent living one day.'