A COMMUNITY initiative to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour has given a local youth centre a funding boost.
Young people at Acre Kirkby Youth Centre, in Morley Street, are set to buy DJ equipment, an air hockey table and an arcade dance machine with the £7,300 from Ashfield Community Safety Partnership.
The centre provides a safe environment for the area's young people and it is hoped the equipment will attract new members as well as help them develop new skills.
There are also plans for monthly discos to boost funds. The club opens each evening from Monday to Friday between 6.30pm and 9pm for those aged 13 and over.
A junior session for 10 to 13-year-olds operates on Saturday mornings from 11am until 1pm.
The partnership said it hoped funds would enable them to boost numbers and create a youth committee for the centre.
A spokesman said: "We believe this will actively enable full citizenship of young people, who can sometimes be left out of decision-making processes. This is their youth centre after all and having these skills will equip them for the future."
Marsha Mann, Community Safety Officer with the Partnership said: "Ashfield Community Safety Partnership is delighted to support projects like this.
"It not only provides young people with somewhere to go and positive things to do, but also enables the young people involved to make contact with support services and pick up valuable new skills."
Staff from the club plan to visit local schools to raise awareness about the new facilities and police, youth workers and Ashfield District Council Community Protection Officers will be encouraging young people to attend.
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