Green light for high-tech Harlesden youth centre

Young people in Harlesden, can look forward to getting a brand new, dedicated, state-of-the-art centre in the near future thanks to a grant of close to £5 million from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The council secured funding for the centre after successfully bidding for a capital grant to build a Beacon Centre for young people in Brent.

The new Roundwood Centre, which will be built in partnership with Brent Youth Parliament, Brent Youth Matters 2, Network Housing, Genesis Housings community development team and Brent Youth Radio, will include an IT suite, cafe, arts workshop, climbing wall and performance area and should enable young people aged 13 to 19 to get involved in dance, theatre, cookery, sports, computing and radio broadcasting.

Staff at the Roundwood Centre will work closely with organisations such as the NHS and Job Centre Plus to provide advice and information services for young people on housing, sexual health, counselling and vocational training.

The centre, which should be completed in 2011, will serve young people in the Harlesden area and throughout Brent and, it is hoped, will increase the abilities, aspirations and confidence of some of the most disadvantaged young people in the borough.

The ultra-modern facilities will also be available for use by people in the wider Harlesden, Stonebridge and Willesden communities.

Petergaye Palmer, 17, Chair of Brent Youth Parliament, says: "Brent Youth Parliament members have been heavily involved in putting the bid together for the Roundwood Centre so it's really great to hear that we've got the money to go ahead and build it.  The centre is really going to transform the lives of young people in and around the Harlesden area and throughout Brent." 

The new Roundwood Centre will be situated off Longstone Avenue in Harlesden.