Stone Youth Centre Building Secured Long Term

There is good news coming out of Staffordshire County Council today as they agreed in principle to transfer the lease for the Stone Youth Centre to the Rising Brook Baptist Church.

Rising Brook has confirmed that not only do they want current groups to stay at the building, it plans to expand its appeal and attract more users.

Ian Parry, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, said:

“The Church has already worked successfully with the authority to take on the running of a community library.

“It made a very strong bid to take over the lease of the youth centre building and I’m delighted that this agreement in principle provides both certainty for those who currently use it and a bright future for a popular community facility.”

Martin Young, of Rising Brook Baptist Church, said that once the final agreement was signed trained staff and local volunteers aimed to build on the building’s current use for sports, before and after school clubs and groups for people with learning disabilities.

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He said:

“We will have a café, with free wifi and computer access, and we want to make this a place for people of all ages, particularly the young, and those who feel marginalised.

“We also intend offering help and advice for those who need it and supporting homework groups, youth clubs and creating space for social and health care.”

County Councillor Philip Jones welcomed the news. He said:

“The building is a valuable asset for Stone and I have been working behind the scenes for some time to find a way to assure its future.

“The schools using the playing field will be relieved by the news and I particularly wanted to secure the after school club, which is so important to working parents.”