Work set to start on doubling the size of Darwen Youth Centre

The doors are set to temporarily close on Darwen Youth Centre to allow for a £3.3m transformation.

It’ll see the Knott Street facility double in size over the next year – adding a brand-new first floor.

Building on the success of the existing Darwen Youth Centre and Youth Zone Darwen, the extension will pave the way for state-of-the-art facilities, including:

A new creative workshop space

Recording and DJ studio

Gaming zone and multi-use spaces

Upgraded outdoor sports facilities

The scheme is one of five across the borough to benefit from more than £8m of new investment secured through the Government’s Youth Investment Fund.

Councillor Julie Gunn, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: ‘’Wow! What a facility this will be once it’s finished.

‘’To have this chance to double the size of the youth centre is phenomenal and the opportunities the extra space will bring for the young people who use it is just fantastic.

‘’In the summer round of the Youth Investment Fund, Blackburn with Darwen secured more funding from Government than any other place in the country with Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone, Audley & Queen’s Park Children’s Centre and Shadsworth Hub all benefitting.

‘’Added to this, we also recently secured a further £140,000 to refurbish Wensley Fold Children’s Centre too to renovate its youth service offer there – more fantastic news.

‘’Driving us is our determination that every child and young person in the borough should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential – we truly believe that no-one should be left behind.

‘’And I know this funding will transform the facilities for our children and young people right across Blackburn with Darwen – it’ll help change lives.’’

Darwen Youth Centre will temporarily close from Sunday, March 31st.

While the work is underway, youngsters will be able to continue to access sessions at the new Darwen Youth Zone in Railway Road, at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre (BRIC), and at the Rainbow Centre, also Railway Road.

Car parking at Darwen Railway Station and Atlas Road has also been made free for the duration of the works, with the new youth centre set to open in early 2025.