The transformation of Blackburn's Wensley Fold Children’s Centre into a Youth Hub is now complete.

A Youth Investment Fund refurbishment grant of £142,000 was awarded to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Young Peoples Services to renovate the building and enhance its offer.

The work means that the project can now support up to 250 attendances per week and that young people across Wensley Fold and neighbouring wards have access to new youth spaces on the ground and first floors of the centre.

The centre now has open-access youth rooms, a games cave, music studios and outside areas to learn bushcraft-type skills.

Cllr Julie Gunn, Blackburn with Darwen Council's children's service boss, said: “I’m so proud of the team and how hard they’ve worked to provide our young people with the creative services that they need and deserve.

"Wensley Fold Children’s Centre looks absolutely amazing, the rooms have been designed with the young people in mind and with their input.

"The wellbeing space, games room and music studios are all so impressive and I’m delighted to see this available in the borough for our young people.

"As well, the centre also supports the council's 'Start for Life' offer – bringing services for families together in one building.”

Wensley Fold Children’s Centre also offers clubs and more targeted services that help support the most vulnerable young people.

Youth support is delivered seven days a week, significantly increasing existing provision.

Young people work through an informal education ‘toolkit’ offering advice and guidance in areas such as emotional health and wellbeing, identity and belonging, healthy relationships, and future planning.

The council's Young People Services are currently working to expand provision at the centre to include access to ‘We Are Noise’, which will offer young people creative arts, music production and podcasting to young people.