A summer camp is being staged at a facility built especially for young people across Liverpool as further sporting activities start at the unique site.
The Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, located on Upper Warwick Street, Toxteth, is a unique project which has seen the creation of a Youth Zone with sporting facilities as part of the Myplace scheme, which provides world-class facilities for young people from across Liverpool.
It is now open from 5pm to 10pm, Monday to Sunday, for 13 to 19-year-olds. Annual membership for this group costs £10 plus £1 per visit. Membership forms are now available at the Hub and more information can be obtained by calling the site on 0151 296 6800.
More than 200 young people have already registered for the summer camp which runs until August 31.
Managing Director of the Hub, Sara Lawton said: “The Hub has now opened its doors and we have a wide range of activities for young people across Liverpool including a varied sporting program. Staff have been recruited and trained and are fully committed to making the Hub a welcoming, safe and enjoyable place for young people.
“There is an exciting atmosphere already; young people wishing to become members can obtain a membership form from our reception desk. Over the coming months we will be launching a junior program as well as some activities for adults across the city. We hope that young people will really make the most of this fantastic facility and we hope to see you there soon.
“The focus of the site is young people, with one of the football pitches ring-fenced for their use at the site, as well as young people being able to have access to the chill out area, sports hall and other facilities. They can also have access to a two storey gym, if they are 16-years-old or older.
“An activity programme is also now in place at the Hub with more information available at http://www.firefithub.org.uk or by calling the site on 0151 296 6800.”
The summer camp at the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, runs everyday from 1pm to 4pm through to August 31. The camp is run by the charity Fire Support Network.
The camp caters for young people who are 6-years-old and older. There is a £2.50 membership charge for 6 to 12-year-olds for the summer camp with a 50p cost per visit. Those aged 13-years-old to 19-years-old can join the summer camp if they are members of the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, with a £1 per visit charge each visit/day to take part.
Andy Savage, from the Fire Support Network who is also a head coach and organiser for the summer camp, said: “We’ve got all sorts of activities every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. A range of sports will be on offer at the summer camp including basketball, football, dodgeball and badminton. It is great to be able to stage this summer camp at such a fantastic facility, work alongside the charitable company set up to run the Hub and have support from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.”
The Toxteth Fire Fit Hub already has its rooms used on weekdays by Everton Free School to teach young people and the Prince’s Trust Team programme, run by Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, also use the site during the day. A charitable company has been set up to run the Hub.
The Hub also staged the second Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Fire Fit Active Challenge, which saw hundreds of school pupils take part in a range of sporting activities including tag rugby, indoor netball, football, basketball and zumba.
Kieran Timmins, Deputy Chief Executive of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “It is great to see young people flocking to the site to become members, illustrating that this really can make a difference to communities.
“Building work was completed on target at the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub and we are very pleased with the high quality of the structure.”
Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor Dave Hanratty said: “I am delighted to see how the site has grown and developed since the building work was completed. We have worked closely with the community during the planning stages for the site and the construction phase. A Community Cabin was also placed on the site during construction. The cabin, which could be booked by members of the community for meetings, had a bank of windows which looked out on to the construction site.
“Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Liverpool City Council worked with local community representatives and organisations as the Hub took shape. The Hub has a Youth Participation Group who have been instrumental in the both the design and build of the Hub, they also agreed the pricing policy and are represented on the Executive Board. Any young person can become a member of the Youth Participation Group.”
The Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, which was built by Wates Construction and is based in the heart of Toxteth, in Liverpool, has a sports hall, martial arts and dance studio and four five-a-side football pitches, available to hire seven days a week. There is also a community fire station at the site.
The Youth Zone includes a chill out and games area.
The Toxteth Fire Fit Hub was funded by the Department of Education’s myplace initiative, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Liverpool City Council.
Pictured: (left to right) Andy Savage, from the Fire Support Network who is also a head coach and organiser for the summer camp, Jennifer McGhee, Centre Manager at the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub, Kieran Timmins, Deputy Chief Executive of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, Managing Director of the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub Sara Lawton and Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor Dave Hanratty. Picture: Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MF&RS)
