A YOUTH and community centre will reopen next week after a year undergoing a £180,000 revamp.

The centre, in Upper Jackson Street, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, has a membership of over 200 young people aged between 11 and 25. It has been transformed thanks to a grant from South Bank and Grangetown Single Regeneration Budget (SRB).

The youngsters have been meeting at other clubs in the area while the refurbishment has been carried out.

Last night, Beth Lindley, youth worker for the South Bank area with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said the refurbishment had been desperately needed, but now meets the needs of young people in the 21st Century.

She said a group of youth centre members had been involved in the changes from start to finish, with their ideas taken into consideration.

"We are grateful to SRB for providing us with the opportunity of making such dramatic changes. The building, which used to be a workingmen's club before it became a centre 30 years ago, was falling apart," said Ms Lindley.

New facilities include a large streamlined kitchen which will be used for catering and training purposes, so that young people can learn life skills including cooking.

There will also be laundry facilities, a computer room, a games room, a quiet area, a stage and a spacious entrance.

South Bank and Grangetown Advice, Resource and Counselling Service will be in attendance for young people at the centre every Wed- nesday and Thursday afternoon.

And in a touching tribute to the late deputy youth worker Malcolm Brady, who died last year, aged 60, the games room will be named after him by his daughter, Deborah Burton, from Guisborough.

The centre will be open for the public to view from 2pm on Monday, before being reopened by Tees Valley Mohawks American award-winning basketball players Ralph Bucci and EJ Harri- son.

The players work with young people in South Bank and Grangetown under the Reach for Success basketball programme