Teenagers put their backs into restoring old Swale council office in Sheerness
Young people ready for
work at the former Swale council offices
Swale council’s former district office, which has been
empty since 2011, is to be redecorated and used by young
people.
Restoration Youth has been granted the use of the buildings, in
Trinity Road, Sheerness, for a year with a view to this leading to
three years and beyond.
Dan Pyke, of Unity Street, Sheerness, is overseeing the project
along with two other youth workers.
They have a budget of £27,000 a year from Kent County Council
for the next three years to provide youth services on the
Island.
Mr Pyke, 32, said a lot of work needs to be done to bring the
buildings up to standard in the next three months, including damp
proofing and painting.
Frames of the upper windows have rot, plastering is needed and
it is hoped an upstairs roomcan can have a laminate floor to become
a dance hall.
A group of 14 young people from CXK, which was formerly
Connexions, are spending two weeks decorating for their Prince’s
Trust award.
They have raised more than £725 which is hoped will cover the
cost of four rooms and they are aiming to fix four more.
Church group The Noise on Sheppey will spend time over half-term
decorating, while pupils from the Isle of Sheppey Academy will
spend three weeks helping in March which will count towards their
curriculum.
Restoration Youth is planning to generate extra funding by
hiring it out to community groups.
Once completed, it is hoped the space can be used by 13 to
19-year-olds to use as an incubator for their business ideas.
Mr Pyke said: “Often places like Sheppey have a negative
reputation that affects young people’s attitudes, so we want to
motivate them and through that they can achieve and do things.”
Swale’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr John Wright, said:
“We have taken the decision to find a temporary use for the old
council offices.
“It will be great to see the boards removed from the doors and
window and some life injected back into the building. We wish them
every success.”
13/02/13
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