Youth hub in doubt amid £100k funding gap

Chairty Bodies in Motion works to combat youth crime with its gym and cafe in Brierfield

The future of a new community youth centre is in doubt after the local council said it was unable to commit to covering a £100,000 funding gap.

Charity Bodies in Motion runs a gym and cafe in Brierfield, Lancashire.

It was given a £1.4m government grant this year to build a new garden and two-storey youth hub in neighbouring Nelson, but said costs had risen by almost £100,000 since it first applied for the funding two years ago.

The group has asked Pendle Council to cover the funding gap, but in a report, the council said it was "not in a position to offer any financial support".

'Precedent'

The council report said: "According to Bodies in Motion, this shortfall is despite ‘value engineering’ the project to make it as affordable as possible under current funding restrictions."

"Should Pendle Council approve a package of support, the Youth Investment Fund may also provide further funding."

But it said awarding funding outside the usual processes "could set a precedent, raising expectations within communities that the council is able to award significant grants for community projects".

"Although the council fully endorses such projects, unfortunately it is not in a position to offer any financial support,” the report said.

Councillors on Pendle’s Nelson, Brierfield and Reedley Committee will look at the situation at their meeting next week.