Young people celebrated as they officially opened a youth centre they helped create on Saturday.

Unity Hub at Craig Park stands like a white beacon at the end of Baxter Road, Edmonton, where it has already begun welcoming more than 100 young people every day.

Supported by Enfield Council’s youth workers, 40 young people created the Unity Hub because they wanted to improve the area for themselves and future generations.

They applied for one of the Government's My Place grant to transform the old Craig Park centre in May 2009 and their successful bid was awarded £3million, with Enfield Council contributing an added £400,000 to the project.

Rafique Ullah, project manager, said: “Young people from the two youth centres in Edmonton met at the old Craig Park Centre, and together became the UNITY Youth Team.

“Membership grew very quickly from four to 40 as youth workers encouraged young people to look beyond their postcode differences.

“They took an interest in becoming young leaders developing their skills and experience. They gained in confidence, planning and taking ownership of their ideas for a new youth
centre to be run by young people.”

The centre is open from 10am to 9.30pm, offering everything from a media suite and recording studio to a climbing cave, gym and dance studio.

There are also outdoor sports facilities, cycling courses and space for training in renovating and repairing bikes.

Young people are encouraged to have fun as well as learn new skills, gain qualifications in youth leadership and help manage the centre.

Councillor Bambos Charalambous said: “This is a superb centre for young people and the key to its undoubted success is that it all comes from their ideas.

“I congratulate all the young people who helped to develop this centre and the youth workers who harnessed their enthusiasm and spurred them on to produce it. It is a real asset for all young people in Edmonton.”

The new building has also been shortlisted for a New London Architecture Award in the Public Buildings category.