Motivated young people in a rural area of Swansea have taken steps to create their own meeting centre.
Teenagers in Craigcefnparc have taken the bull by the horns and are set to transform a room in the old Welfare Hall into a young people’s lounge.
Suzy Mayhew is Swansea Council’s Rural Youth Team Manager. She said: “We work with young people to bring about positive change in their communities and to help them access facilities.
“The Craigcefnparc project aims to clear the old changing rooms at the hall and develop them into a young people’s meeting space.
“It needs substantial renovation works such as electrics, plumbing and decorating to make it a comfortable place for young people to use but they have already managed to secure funding from the UNLTD Sport Relief Fund Wales and have secured the backing of the Welfare Hall Committee.”
Nineteen-year-old Geraint Turner is leading the drive. He said: “Initially it was just a crazy idea brought up whilst discussing future projects with a group of young people.
“I decided that this idea wasn’t so crazy and did a bit of research. There isn’t an area in the village like this where the young people can go and be young people. With a rough drawing and support from Swansea Youth Service I set about applying for £10,000 from UNLTD Wales to make the idea come to life.”
Suzy said: “Geraint has been hard at work over the last four months and has made an impact on the place. Older young people are coming forward to support him as well as other community members.”
Lord Mayor of Swansea Cllr Richard Lewis will be opening the new Craigcefnparc Young People’s lounge at the Welfare Hall in Ffordd Ellen in Craig Cefn Parc on February 7.
