A PLACE OF OUR OWN; Youngsters celebrate pounds 15m lottery jackpot.

Byline: By MIKE BLACKBURN

YOUNG people on Teesside are today celebrating news that nearly pounds 15m of world-class youth facilities are to be built for their enjoyment.

The massive funding has come from the Department of Children, Schools and Families' 'myplace' programme, awarded through the Big Lottery.

Across the country, 41 successful myplace projects have won a share of pounds 180m. Teesside boasts three of the four projects worth nearly pounds 19m promised to the North-east region.

State-of-the-art youth centres will be built in Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar - with local youngsters involved in putting the bids together and designing the centres.

Stockton's myplace award of pounds 5m will fund the new ICE - Inspiration, Creativity and Entertainment - centre to be built in Norton which is expected to be running by 2012.

Designed to be iconic and innovative, it will provide activities and services for 13 to 19-year-olds, along with those with disabilities aged up to 25, seven days a week.

It will include social facilities, a recording studio, cafe and a performing arts area and young people will play a part in its management.

Developed by Stockton Council with young people and local partner providers, the authority says it will provide support and services to young people who need it most.

Elizabeth Shearer, Stockton Youth Member of Parliament, who has been involved with the project, said: "It will give young people new opportunities to make new friends and develop a wide range of skills that will help them in their everyday lives, and will create a strong foundation for their future."

Councillor Alex Cunningham, the council's Cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Groups of young people have helped us prepare the bid and they will also be involved at every stage of its development."

A disused building in Middlesbrough will be transformed into a state-of-the-art centre for people aged eight to 19 with the help of a pounds 4.3m myplace award.

The Grade II listed Custom House, in North Street, will house a performance hall, cafe, chill out space, creche, climbing wall, media studio, interactive library, music facilities, gym and a bowling alley. Outdoors, will be a multi-use sports pitch, allotments and wildlife gardens.

A range of services for young people will be on offer, including volunteering, learning and work advice and programmes, provided by a range of partners.

Thomas Bielby, 18, chair of Middlesbrough's Youth Council, who has also been involved with the project, said: "This is great news for the young people of Middlesbrough."

Project co-ordinator Wendy Kelly said: "We expect up to 9,000 people will access myplace every year, including areas of the community considered to be marginalised."

Unrivalled arts and media facilities are promised for the new Tuned In centre in Redcar, which is expected to be built close to the beach on Majuba Road, thanks to a pounds 4.9m award.

The new seashell-shaped centre, also being developed with local young people, will fuse together the natural and built environment.

A Young People's Steering Group, established by the Redcar Council in June, came up with its own criteria for the facility - a beach-side location, available for both outdoor and indoor arts activities.

Two of its members, 14-year-olds Daniel Shields, from Sacred Heart RC School, Redcar, and Chelsea Greenwood, from Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, travelled to London to hear the good news from Beverley Hughes MP, Government Minister responsible for myplace.

Daniel said: "It's exciting to win so much money. When the centre is built it will be a fantastic attraction for all young people in the area."

Cllr Ian Jeffrey, the council's Cabinet member for children's services and education, said: "It is an exciting collaboration which has engaged partners and captured the imagination of young people."

CAPTION(S):

IN THE MONEY: Cllr Ian Jeffrey with the Young People's Steering Group on the beach in Redcar left, and Wendy Kelly with youngsters at Custom House, Middlesbrough, above; SUPPORT: Cllr Alex Cunningham with young people who have helped secure funding for the new ICE centre, left Picture by PETER REIMANN