A major £3.1 million project to transform and expand the Blackburn Youth Zone has got underway in the town centre.
The Youth Zone is undergoing a huge refurbishment to improve and grow its services to young people in the town.
The historic Fusebox facility, which is located within the building, is also being redeveloped.
The Fusebox is located in a historic building in Jubilee Street, which began life as the town’s Gas Light Company in 1818, adding a Telephone Exchange in 1880 and electricity generators in 1895.
The aim is to preserve the heritage for future generations as an inspiration to young people.
Blackburn Youth Zone’s chief executive, Hannah Allen, said: “The impressive building is a historical asset to the town and we are thankful to the Youth Investment Fund for enabling us to transform the space that brought electricity to Blackburn into our very own world of work centre.
“We provide young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.
“Our founding principle is starting where young people are, going where young people take us.”
The charity is building a new employment and skills hub in the Fusebox building.
Alongside this, the Youth Zone entrance area is being transformed into a ‘multi-purpose outdoor meeting space’.
Other additions and improvements are a wet arts room, a training kitchen and a revamped gaming zone.
A significantly improved health and well-being space will include a salon with hair-washing facilities, an updated music room, a relocated gym and new office space for staff.
The nine-month building programme is being delivered by Rosslee Construction.
Rosslee director, Michael Clarkson, said: “We have planned the construction programme to ensure safety and ease, ensuring the building remains open throughout.
“We know how vital the Youth Zone is to the local community. It’s been inspiring to see first hand the commitment of the Youth Zone and how passionate everyone is about delivering quality youth work.
“We have huge respect for the amazing opportunities available to the young people of Blackburn and, as a patron, we are honoured to be playing our part in making this space bigger, better and ready to welcome even more members than currently enjoy the Youth Zone experience.”
Hannah said the Youth Zone had 5,000 members ‘from every ward in the town’.
She added: “Our new World Of Work centre will be located in the historic Fusebox building and will be a dedicated new space where we can empower young people and industry to come together to increase aspirations, build skills for the future and access a range of employment opportunities to improve the economic well-being of the young people of Blackburn.”
Chair of the Youth Zone, Wayne Wild, said: “The Youth Zone is part of the fabric of our town, owned by every member of our community.
“The Fusebox will provide a space for our growing patron network to give their time and expertise to inspire young people to gain skills and aspirations to gain the best jobs in the future, genuinely levelling up opportunities for future generations.”
