Charity to give former clinic a new lease of life

Fareham-based charity Y Services has secured a 10-year-lease from Fareham Borough Council to run services for young people in the abandoned Hill Park Clinic at Frosthole Close.

The building has been vacant for a number of years and requires an investment of between £30,000 to £50,000 to bring it up to a good state.

Andy Kennedy, chair of the charity’s trustees said: ‘As a charity, we are very excited about this opportunity.

‘We have been working in the area for many years and this provides a great chance to bring vital youth services to young people in Fareham.’

Y Services, which was formed in March 2011, delivers a number of projects to children and young people aged 13 to 25 where it supports them on a variety of issues including health, life skills, relationships and mentoring.

The plan for the building is to turn it into an ‘arts and crafts hub’ and training venue for young people.

The council’s executive agreed at a meeting on Monday to grant the group the 10-year lease in order to carry out its work.

Councillor Fred Birkett, who represents Fareham North West, supported the group’s application and spoke highly of it at the meeting.

He said: ‘Y services has provided an excellent and extremely worthwhile support structure for Fareham and Gosport’s young people.’

The area had been highlighted by the charity as a target spot due to high numbers of people not being in education, employment or in training.

Sean Woodward, the council’s executive leader, said: ‘I think this is a fantastic proposal. We have been struggling hard to find some use for the building and I think Y Services will do a great job.’

Councillor Tiffany Harper, executive member for Streetscene, added: ‘This opportunity to give youngsters another way of learning transferable skills to enable them in later life will prove to be immeasurable for them.

Cllr Keith Evans, executive member for planning, added: ‘This opportunity is one that we should not ignore.’