Construction of a new youth and community centre in Seascale is under way – marking a significant milestone for a local charity.
The Shackles Off Youth and Community Project is delighted to have been awarded over half a million pounds from Nuclear Wastes Services’ Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) programme, through Mid Copeland Community Partnership.
A further £150,000 funding was awarded from Copeland Community Fund, which is administered by Cumberland Council and funded through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for hosting the Low Level Waste Repository.
The new centre will continue to offer the charity’s wide range of activities including youth clubs, fun activities, one to one support, informal education, over 50s groups and social action – as well as broaden its opportunities. It will also provide a base for the Seascale & District Royal British Legion and other local groups.
Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and members of the Community Partnership were invited along to the site to see the work in progress.
Mandy Taylor, executive officer of Shackles Off, which involves over 350 children and young people, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon that we have received this funding to make our dream a reality and delighted that work is now well under way and we can see fantastic progress being made.
“This new centre means so much for the young people, our staff, volunteers and other local groups who will have a permanent base in the community and one that meets all our needs. We’re very grateful for this funding as we couldn’t have achieved this on our own.”
Demolition work has taken place and building work has started for the eco-friendly project, which will include a community room, youth space, kitchen and storage. It is hoped the centre, near the Windscale Club, will be finished and ready for use around summer next year.
Shackles Off – which started in 2008 by a small group of volunteers – is proud to have recently won ‘Best Youth Project’ in Cumbria Community Foundation’s Better Tomorrows Awards. It now employs several staff, including operations manager Joanne Pears and many volunteers.
Mandy explained that not-for-profit organisation SASRA, which provides recreation and sporting activities in the area, has been instrumental in making this project happen.
She said: “SASRA has provided the land which the new facility is being built on and also practical support with two of its directors sitting on the project team, inputting their valuable experience. We would also like to thank retired Sellafield worker Steve Hall who has co-ordinated the project and put hundreds of voluntary hours in, ensuring everything runs smoothly.”
MP Josh MacAlister said: “I’m delighted to see work well under way on this fantastic new youth and community centre for Seascale. Shackles Off has been a cornerstone of local life for years, giving young people opportunities to learn, grow and give back to their community.
“This new building will help secure that legacy for the future – providing a space where people of all ages can come together, build connections and support one another. It’s great to see local organisations, funders and volunteers working in partnership to make it happen.”
Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership has worked with Shackles Off on a number of projects including GDF information sessions where young people presented their views; work to develop a community vision and writing for the newsletter. The funding was awarded through the GDF programme’s Community Investment Funding.
Partnership Chair, Andy Pratt, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to award a substantial amount of money towards this new youth and community centre. The Partnership has worked with the Shackles Off team and young people on many occasions and we know what this new facility will mean to them.”
Martin Walkingshaw, NWS’ Senior Advisor, said: “We’re proud to support this new centre as it will make a real difference and provide a sense of place for this local charity, working with hundreds of children and young people between Seascale and Millom.”
A GDF is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of the most hazardous radioactive waste.
To find out more about Community Investment Funding, please email: communityinvestment-midcopeland@nuclearwasteservices.uk and for the Copeland Community Fund email: info@copelandcommunityfund.co.uk
For further information on Shackles Off please email: admin@shacklesoff.org.uk