Super centres must learn from pioneers

The conception of the government's Myplace fund largely came about as result of the struggles that pioneering youth centres such as Bolton Lads & Girls Club faced when trying to secure the funding to turn their bold visions into reality. While not every youth worker will agree with spending £240m on bricks and mortar through the Myplace scheme, the example of Bolton suggests that such large-scale clubs can become far more than just somewhere for young people to hang out.

Seven years on from the centre reopening, 3,000 children and young people use the club each week and it is still adding to its many services. The creation of a forest school on a largely unused piece of woodland near Bolton is just the latest in a long line of services it now offers. The school gives young people who might otherwise struggle to engage in formal education the chance to learn in the outdoors and gain a sense of achievement.