Brand New Youth Facility For Newcastle

27 May 2013, 06:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A brand new youth facility's being opened in Newcastle by NE1 Ltd which aims to help tackle youth unemployment.

The idea of the Space2... centre is for young people to be able to meet with friends, play games, watch films and enhance their job skills, thanks to business improvement district company, NE1 Ltd.

Based in Newgate Shopping Centre on Clayton Street, the centre is just around the corner from The Gate and across the road from Eldon Square's St Andrews Mall, ideally placed right in the centre of town.

Space2... has been financed and delivered by NE1, who teamed up with YMCA Newcastle and Solar Learning to create a space for young people in the heart of the city centre with the aim of tackling youth unemployment by forging strong links with the city's business community.

Space2... is managed by YMCA Newcastle with Solar Learning, a locally-based community interest company, with an excellent track record in bringing young people into work, coordinating a programme to deliver training, mentoring and skill development projects.

One of the key features of Space2... is that it is being delivered in close collaboration with city centre businesses who are working with Space2... to offer guidance and support on courses and their delivery.

The team is also looking to match promising young people who use the centre with specific vacancies and job opportunities with Newcastle employers.

Space2... is made up of three units each designed to fulfil a different purpose.

Unit 1, named Space2...'Chill', is designed to provide an area where young people from 13 to 18 can relax, buy drinks and snacks, hang out with friends, play video games PS3 or Xbox360 or watch films - all for free.

There is also an iPad station, equipped with ipads, where visitors can network and play.

Space2...'Do' is the name given to Unit 2 where the focus of activity is all about participation.

A flexible space designed to provide a venue for employment and enterprise training, courses and workshops, it can also host events and activities such as video editing sessions and dance classes.

It also provides a forum for young people to meet with business people to hear what they do, how they got there and to seek advice on what skills and training they are looking for when making appointments

In Unit 3, Space2...'Work', a quieter room designed for young people to work independently using the bank of Windows, or Apple Mac computers to do their individual study including homework, CVs and job applications.

Space2... is open Monday -Thursday from 4 - 8pm, Friday 4 - 7pm, weekend opening is from 11- 7 on Saturdays and from 12 - 8pm on Sundays. 

For more information on Space2...:
www.facebook.com/newcastlespace2
Follow Space2...on Twitter @newcastlespace2