Construction has officially begun on a new youth centre in Hemlington, marking the first time a facility of this kind has been built in Middlesbrough in over a decade. Mayor Chris Cooke joined ward councillors at a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the project, which is being led by the local charity The Junction.
The new building will be located on Cass House Road, near the Hemlington Recreation Centre and Beverley Park School. The 266 square metre space is designed to include a large hall that can be divided into two, as well as meeting rooms, offices, and welfare facilities for the local community.
The project is being delivered using modern, modular construction techniques by Portakabin, with the build expected to be completed in approximately 12 weeks. Funding for the centre was provided by the government-backed Youth Investment Fund.
Once finished, the facility will be open six days a week, with the aim of serving more than 800 young people annually through over 4,000 attendances. Beth Major, CEO of The Junction, stated that the new centre marks a significant step towards restoring essential youth services that have been lost in the area over recent decades.
This development is part of a wider effort by Middlesbrough Council to expand support for young people. As part of its 2026-27 budget, the local authority has committed an extra £300,000 to ensure that youth clubs or dedicated activities are available in every one of the town’s 20 wards.
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