The funding of a new £3.8m youth centre in Swindon will come from the government’s Youth Investment Fund.

Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet approved the refurbishment of the currently empty Lyndhurst Centre in Park North, next to Goddard Park Primary School in September.

But at the time members of the administration were tight-lipped about where the money was coming from.

Now it has been confirmed they are happy to say it has been awarded by the investment fund set up by central government.

Councillor Paul Dixon, the cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I’m very pleased we’ve got this funding confirmed and it’s a big boost for the borough’s young people.

“We want to make sure children and young people have these spaces where they can go, interact with each other, and learn valuable skills.

“Not only will it improve their quality of life, but it will also have an impact in making Swindon safer for future generations.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation of the building and welcoming people through its doors next year.”

When refurbished the centre is expected to be capable of supporting more than a hundred children a week, from across the borough and offer support designed to deter young people from potential trouble.

Activities that will be on offer to children and young people will include: music, cooking sessions, health, fitness and beauty sessions, and informal education.

There will also be activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities and opportunities for young people to engage with local training and employment opportunities in the borough.

The council’s cabinet approved the funding in September last year and work is already taking place to refurbish the existing centre ahead of a planned opening in March 2025.

The funding was announced as part of a round of funding worth £90 for 140 youth centres across England.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Lucy Frazer said: “I want to see every young person have someone to talk to, something to do, and somewhere to go outside of the classroom, no matter where they are from, to help maximise their potential in life.

“This next round of funding from the Youth Investment Fund will help nearly 20,000 more young people achieve this goal. We have committed to creating more opportunities for young people to gain the skills needed to succeed in life and stopping them from falling through the cracks.”