Charity opens new youth hub and apartments

YMCA North Staffordshire CEO Danny Flynn says the new facilities are about giving young people opportunities

A charity in Stoke-on-Trent is holding an open day on Friday to mark the unveiling of its new £6m facility.

YMCA North Staffordshire has opened a new youth hub, along with 46 new one-bedroomed apartments for young people, next to the existing campus on Harding Road in Hanley.

The hub will include a training kitchen, art room, digital suite. recording studio and chill-out space.

The apartments are designed to support people aged 18-30 towards independent living, the charity said.

"This is about equipping kids with skills, with opportunity," CEO Danny Flynn said.

"The only difference between rich kids and poor kids is life chances. So, this building here is designed on life chances."

He said it was "in all of our interests" to invest in younger people.

The wider project had run £1m over budget, he said, due to construction delays.

"When I came here, there was the tower in the middle and that was about it, with some sports facilities."

He estimated the charity had brought in £25m in the city over the last two decades.

The project cost about £6m according to bosses, and ran about £1m over budget due to construction delays

Each apartment features a private bathroom and open-plan kitchen-living area.

Bosses said the project was aimed at helping young people overcome obstacles, such as tenancy history and upfront rental costs, while providing a safe and affordable environment.