New State of the Art Youth Centre

The Spotlight Youth Centre project, led by Poplar HARCA, has been awarded £3.8 million as part of the Government’s myplace programme.

The three year programme, delivered by the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Big Fund’, provides grants of between £1 and £5million to create excellent youth facilities, tackling antisocial behaviour and helping young people engage with their communities.

Sumaia Mashal, aged 19, Chair of the Youth Empowerment Board, said: “This really is a breakthrough for all residents in the area. No more bored teenagers hanging around corners with nothing to do”
 
Babu Bhattacherjee, Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Our young people are amazing and they have worked incredibly hard to get Poplar a world class youth centre. This centre will give our young people the chance to fulfil many of their hopes and ambitions – they deserve the best and I am delighted that we can finally turn our plans into reality.”

Local MP Jim Fitzpatrick said,”I have been supporting this bid from the very beginning. With one the highest number of young people in Western Europe, it is fitting and right that Poplar is home to a state of the art youth centre. I was particularly impressed by the young people who shaped this bid, their ideas and commitment cemented its success.”

The centre will be open to young people aged 13 to 19, seven days a week and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights and provides a safe space for young people to spend time in and socialize.

Partners including Langdon Park School, Poplar Boys and Girls Club and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets are supporting the project.

Artist impression of the new state of the art Myplace Youth Centre