Free youth centre membership for town's children

The £9.2m centre is expected to open in January next year, according to the Onside charity

All children aged between eight and 18 will be given free access to a new state-of-the-art youth centre once funding is approved.

Base71 in Barnsley is due to open in January 2026 and Barnsley Council has pledged £150,000 to cover a year's membership for the district's young people.

The centre will have an indoor climbing wall, a four-court sports hall, a fitness suite, a boxing and martial arts room and a rooftop football pitch and is part of the Great Childhoods Ambition programme.

A council spokesperson said: "We are committed to making Barnsley a place of possibilities and ensuring all children, young people and families benefit from the prospects that a great childhood brings."

'Hub of opportunity'

Base71, managed by national youth charity OnSide, will be run by volunteers and youth workers and will also offer support to those with additional needs up to the age of 25.

The spokesperson also said: "We believe that every child deserves the chance to explore their potential and be inspired by the possibilities around them."

The council will decide next week if the £150,000 is approved, it said.

Base71 is a reference to the youth centre's postcode, with the word Base "symbolising a safe space and welcoming home where young people can feel secure", said a spokesperson for OnSide.

The hub will serve young people aged 8 to 18, or up to 25 if they have additional needs, the charity said

Mandy Carlson, chief executive officer of Base71 Youth Zone, added: "This investment from Barnsley Council will help us make membership even more accessible, reaching young people from all walks of life and providing them with a hub of opportunity, inspiration and growth, right in their hometown."

The facility is costing an estimated £9.2m to build, with contributions coming from the council, the government and the private sector.

Barnsley Council is contributing £4.5m while online retailer ASOS, which has a warehouse in the town, is donating £1.2m.

It will operate as an independent charity and be open seven days a week.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North