Safe place to stay for Worcester's vulnerable young (From Worcester News)

Safe place to stay for Worcester's vulnerable young

7:10am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News By Sarah Davies

VULNERABLE homeless youngsters in Worcester will benefit from new services at the city’s YMCA.

Yesterday, four new bedrooms were unveiled at the Henwick Road centre, providing emergency temporary accommodation for 16 and 17-year-olds.

It brings the total of 'Safebases' to six in Worcester and 10 across the county.

The refurbishment has converted old football changing rooms into three new rooms together with bathroom facilities. A fourth new bedroom has been created in an old music room, adding to two already in the main YMCA building.

Dignitaries were invited to view the new rooms, the majority of work for which has been done by the onsite maintenance team and residents.

They were also given a tour of a new music room and workshop area – once a file storage area – where residents can learn useful skills such as plastering and woodwork as part of the Skills for Work Employment Life initiative.

Collette Middleton, who has been a YMCA resident on and off for the past 18 months, took part in the project and will mentor the young people who come to use the emergency accommodation.

The 25-year-old said it was important young people had a safe place to stay while they looked for a more permanent home.

She said: “They’re young kids. They need somewhere they’re going to feel safe and not somewhere they’re stuck by themselves.

“It’s good we now have these extra rooms and it’s one less thing for the people who need them to worry about.”