The future of Stone Youth Centre as a community facility looks brighter with news that current users are looking to take it over from the county council.
The groups and businesses that are currently using the centre are looking to form a community management committee to to ensure it remains open and accessible to the Stone community.
The building, off Station Approach, has not been used as a youth centre since the end of last year, when Staffordshire County Council cut youth services across the county.
A number of groups, however, still use the centre – the ‘4 to 14’ before-and-after school club; Staffordshire Venture, which provides day services; Wych, which works with young people with learning disabilities; and Carefree Living, a weekly lunch and social club. The sports facilities, meanwhile, are being used by students from St Dominic’s Priory School.
And they are looking at putting together an expression of interest to take over the running of the facility from the county council.
Stone Town Council had expressed an interest in taking over the youth centre, but pulled out of negotiations with the county council in the summer.
In July, the county council’s cabinet support member for health and social care – Mark Sutton – said the buildings “would be maintained by Staffordshire County Council for the time being while its future is considered by our Penda Property Partnership (a review of county council and police buildings)”.
A meeting took place earlier this month, when current users were brought together to discuss the future of the youth centre, and there is fresh hope that a community management committee can take over the running of the building.
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]Alex Lewney, a member of Carefree Living, was at the meeting and told us: “There was a feeling among the current users that they could form a committee and keep the premises open. There are a wide variety of current users and making sure the facility is there for young people seemed essential to the purpose, as well as protecting current groups and making sure there’s enough revenue from lettings to keep the centre working.”[/box]
An expression of interest has to be submitted to the county council by the end of October.
A Staffordshire County Council spokesman said: “We are still working with interested groups to see if they develop a joint proposal.”
1 comment
Peter Calvert
Excellent news : Lets hope Stone Town Council will be supportive !