Cessnock Youth Centre and Outreach Service now has a new and improved space for the city’s young people.
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The renovations included an alteration of the configuration of the Aberdare Road building to convert a largely unused storage space into two new office spaces.
The Reach Foundation will operate out of one of these rooms, allowing the youth wellbeing/mental health organisation to build on its growing presence in the Hunter region.
Reach Foundation regional manager Emily Cant said it was great to have a permanent space in Cessnock, where 45 young people are currently taking part in its leadership development program.
The other space will be hired out on a casual basis to other youth focused service providers.
CYCOS coordinator Will Doran said Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council is operating out of the room every second Friday, and a number of other agencies have shown interest.
Cessnock City Council received $38,000 from the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnerships program to fund the upgrades.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent thanked the NSW Government for their support, saying the dollar-for-dollar grant was vital in seeing the project become a reality.
“CYCOS provides an invaluable service to our community, especially to local young people and their families,” he said.
Cr Pynsent and Cessnock MP Clayton Barr officially opened the new-look centre on Monday.
Mr Barr said it was fantastic to support 19 local projects through the grants.
“I was very pleased CYCOS was successful in their application, this will provide more opportunities for youth focused organisations such as the Reach Foundation to provide additional support to young people,” he said.
The ceremony doubled as a thank you event for the volunteers who contributed to Cessnock’s Youth Week celebrations.
More than 1600 people attended 24 events across the city during Youth Week in April.
“It was great to be able to shine a spotlight on those who made Cessnock’s Youth Week a success,” Cr Pynsent said.
“Youth Week would not be possible without the support we get from the NSW Government, young people, volunteers, collaborating youth and community service agencies and businesses who generously donated.”
Check out photos from Cessnock’s signature Youth Week event, YouthFest, in the gallery below.