Chichester: The Shed youth centre designed by teenagers who will use it

Shed staff Sarah Nute and Gavin Walker with 13-year-olds Mia and Charlie, who helped in the design

A new youth centre which was designed by local teenagers has opened in Chichester.

The Shed is a timber-framed building with a garden overlooking a green at a new housing development at Graylingwell Park.

It's been designed as a flexible space to offer a place to meet friends.

The club will also offer free activities every weeknight including youth club, sport, music sessions, yoga, DIY classes and arts and crafts.

It's the first new-build youth centre to be funded by the Government's Youth Investment Fund which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Clare de Bathe, CEO of the Chichester Community Development Trust, said: "Children need a place that's their own, they have some ownership over it and there's free and positive activities for them to take part in."

Two of those who have helped in the design over the last four years are Mia and Charlie, both 13.

'A safe place'

Mia said: "It's just a safe place where we can go to hang out when we need to get a place away from life really."

Charlie said: "It's really good. At 13 we don't have jobs so we can't really afford to go to places.

"It just feels like a really safe environment here because no one judges."

Gavin Walker, lead youth worker at The Shed, said it has been designed as a flexible space where young people can go and "basically just be themselves".

He added: "The main thing is the young people will determine what's in there and what we actually do in there."

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer visited the Shed earlier this month. She said: "Youth clubs like this help people build new skills, they build confidence.

"Today I've seen kids learning yoga and music and skateboarding so it's about finding something that appeals to them, that gives them a passion, something positive to do."

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