Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has successfully secured £2.9 million funding to build the first of a new generation of facilities for young people.

The 2.9m ‘myplace’ grant was awarded by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and will be used to build new state-of-the-art facilities for young people in Shoeburyness.

The new landmark building will include an informal contemporary restaurant with a professional kitchen, a garden and terrace area, a dance studio, gymnasium, large multi function sports hall with a climbing wall plus modern changing and shower facilities.

Additionally, there will be an IT suite, a soundproofed music area offering rehearsal and recording facilities, a games room, a bike and motor vehicle workshop, a youth volunteering centre and office accommodation.

The high specification restaurant and kitchen will offer reasonably priced locally sourced seasonal food in an informal but stylish environment.

The restaurant will be run as a Social Enterprise by the YMCA and will be used as a training kitchen and work place for vulnerable young people.

Councillor Roger Hadley, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, says: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure this government funding in order to provide our young people with first-class facilities and increase their opportunities to develop.

“The new centre will allow young people to access information, advice and guidance services and provide facilities for positive evening and weekend activities.”

Janice Lyons, Local Service Manager, said: “This will create a landmark building for Shoeburyness and provide access to services and facilities seven days a week. It will challenge perceptions of what youth facilities have to be like and who they are for.

‘Most of all it will raise young people’s aspirations by sending out a positive message about Shoeburyness and providing a building that local people can be proud of.’

Syrie Cox, Chief Executive of Southend YMCA, says: ‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with Connexions to develop this new resource. The success of this funding bid is testament to the different organisations’ commitment to working collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

‘With this new project, I look forward to building on our success of engaging with young people with food related and customer service related schemes.’

David, who is 16 and uses the current Connexions facilities at Shoebury, says: ‘Having this wonderful new building will give lots of young people opportunities to do so many new things. Young people will have a good time using these new facilities and the centre will be a great place for the whole community.’

Plans for the new building have been developed by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Property and Regeneration team and architects Camal, in consultation with young people at Shoeburyness Youth Centre. Plans for the building are expected to be approved shortly and it is hoped that works will begin in the first half of 2009. The project is expected to take around 12 months to complete.