Youth Centres: Teenagers to help build 3.5m centre

The Shard End Community Building Project in Birmingham will provide 60 young people aged 16 to 19 with the chance to gain work experience as part of their construction courses.

The centre is to be built on a old petrol station in the Lea Village area of the city.

Ken Jones, partnership manager at Thomas Vale Construction, which is building the centre, said: "The project started with local young people who had input into the planning and design of the centre. They said they wanted a sound studio, a cafe, an internet cafe, a kitchen, and educational spaces."

Birmingham Youth Service and the local careers, education and health services are set to make use of the centre. The multi-million pound development is being led by the council's urban design department.