Youth centre members reeling after break-in

MEMBERS of a Northside youth centre have been left angered following the second break-in this year at their premises.

Following attempts as recently as two weeks ago, the youth activity centre in Priorswood was broken into on June 16, resulting in property theft and significant damage.

The damage has resulted in the centre being closed until necessary repairs can be made, including fitting a new door and rewiring the alarm.

The break-in and closure has resulted in the cancellation of a number of planned activities with young people for a couple of weeks. Staff members were faced with the difficult challenge of trying to explain this to groups of young people since last Monday afternoon (June 17).

Mick Ferron, manager at the Sphere 17 regional youth facility in Darndale, told Northside People that some of them were very upset by the news.

“The Priorswood Youth Activity Centre, as with the other local youth centres, has already been forced to cut back on hours due to funding cuts,

? he said.

“Despite this, the demand for service continues to grow, and in the last year over 280 young people from the Priorswood area engaged in various activities and services with their youth service.

“Sphere 17 has applied for funding to replace the prefab, which is around 30 years old, and all the necessary planning permissions have been secured.

“Indeed, fundraising efforts to date have raised over e50k for this much-needed new centre.

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Mr Ferron added: At the moment, however, young people and staff are trying to come to terms with why anybody would target their centre in this way, especially given the fact there is little in there of any financial worth.

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Meanwhile, on a positive note, Sphere 17 is looking forward to its programme,

‘Summer Sphere 2013’, which takes place from July 8-26.