Bolton youth group submit application to move to new centre

Be The Change is looking to move from The Willows Community Centre in Daubhill to a new centre on Back Deane Church Lane West.

A planning application has been submitted.

Under the plans, the youth centre will create a ramp for disabled people to enter and leave, create five on-site parking spaces, and add in new windows to the exterior.

Leader of the youth charity, Daniel Sukula said: “We’ve been looking for a new place for the past year now as we have outgrown where we are now and are very limited.

“We’re getting so many young people contact us, but we are at full capacity.

“With the current place there is just one room, and our project is growing so we need more space.”

Be The Change runs three days at the present centre but want to run longer in future once the move is complete.

The improved hub will have two floors consisting of a dance studio, a chill area, a music studio, computer room, counselling room, kitchen, and two offices.

The kitchen is being funded by Carrs Pasties as they work with the youth hub.

Asda Foundation are also involved in the project as they funded kitchen refurbishments and office equipment.

Daniel said: “The best thing is the kitchen because young people really want to learn how to cook and, in the place, now, there’s only space for a few.

Right now, the food can be unhealthy because there isn’t enough space to cook but in the new space, we can do more healthy cooking.”

Daniel hopes the centre will encourage more youth to get off the street.

He said: “That area needs this because it’s one of the most deprived areas in Bolton so this could help reduce anti-social behaviour if they have a place to go.”

The project has not yet come before the council, but National Highways said while there was potential parking increase, it would remain minimal and instead encouraged public transport.

A report stated: “The premises could be considered reasonably accessible to sustainable modes of transportation and the surrounding residential catchments and demographic.

“On this basis and acting on the extant use of the premises, the Local Highway Authority would struggle to reasonably object to what is being proposed under this application.”