Teenagers in Chesterfield will soon be able to explore their creativity in a world-class performing arts youth centre which has just been given a multi-million pound grant from myplace, a Government scheme run by the Big Lottery Fund.

My Place Chesterfield, in the town centre, has received over £3.1 million for this exciting project comprising of a new building and the refurbishment of the existing Donut arts centre.

The myplace programme is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). It is funding projects across England that are working to create safe places for young people to go, where they can get involved in a wide range of exciting activities and get information and advice from people they trust.

All projects funded through myplace have actively involved young people in their design and development, and will continue to involve them in their future running.

My Place Chesterfield is to be run by Fairplay in partnership with Derbyshire County Council. It will hold an outdoor sports centre, art and pottery room, resource library and sensory room. Young people will be able to get career advice and support on issues such as sexual health and domestic violence from local college representatives and agencies like Connexions and Women’s Aid.

The refurbishment of the arts centre will include a recording studio, digital media and arts facilities, an internet café, chill out area, performance stages and a dance studio. Visitors aged 11-25, including those with disabilities and from disadvantaged areas, will be able to take part in activities ranging from music recording and singing to film production and dance.

Ed Balls, Children and Young People’s Secretary, said: “The vast majority of young people are good citizens, play by the rules and just want better things to do and places to go after school and at the weekend rather than hanging around in the street or in the local park.  They enjoy getting involved in exciting projects such as myplace, so I hope that this scheme will help change the way communities view our young people.

“myplace will transform positive activities for young people who will be able to decide what kind of facilities they want, and when they want them, such as on Friday and Saturday nights.

“In the Children’s Plan we said we want all young people to have the best opportunities whatever their circumstances and myplace will give young people across the country a chance to enjoy new experiences, learn new skills and become a valued member   of their community.”

Heather Fawbert, Fairplay’s project manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted. Young people have told us what they would like more than anything are safe places to get involved in activities. This has been a great opportunity for them to discuss plans with architects.

“There will be accredited volunteering opportunities for young people, ranging from supporting children at playschemes and running dance sessions to helping out in the recording studio.

“As Fairplay is keen to demonstrate its commitment to working with the local community, construction vehicles will access the site via neighbouring disused land. After building is complete, this land will be transformed into an allotment and garden.”

Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the East Midlands, said: “My Place Chesterfield will provide a vital service to young people, many of whom would not otherwise have the chance to participate in such a wide range of activities. This project will have a positive impact not only on their lives, but also on the wider community.”

Driven by the active participation of young people, myplace is part of the Government’s Aiming High strategy. The ten-year youth strategy was announced in July 2007 to help young people, particularly those in deprived areas, take part in positive activities that will help them develop new skills and raise their aspirations.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 10 20 30
Textphone:  08456 021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website.

• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-lottery funding. BIG has been appointed to distribute £190 million of Government funding from DCSF to develop world-class youth facilities in England through the myplace progamme.
• For further information on myplace please visit the website http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/youthmatters/aiminghigh/myplace/
• The recent Youth Taskforce Action Plan announced that the Government is also investing a further £22.5m through the Youth Capital Fund to improve places for young people to go in neighbourhoods where anti-social behaviour is a particular problem.