The opening of Helston’s new GP surgery and health hub next spring is on track and the team are now seeking funds to progress the creation of a dedicated space for young people in the town.

While the previous shop floor area of the former Budgens supermarket, in the Trengrouse Way car park, is to become the new expanded home of Meneage Street Surgery – as well as a centre for other activities supporting both physical and mental health – downstairs is planned to be developed into a space where teenagers and young people will be able to be active and socialise.

Project manager Jonathan Kearsley told the Packet: “We aim to raise the floor, put in a new entrance and windows, and a kitchen as soon as were able."

As reported by the Packet in September, an open day earlier this year – attended by 367 people – found that the most desired activity was a climbing wall, with 66.2 per cent of responses to a questionnaire being in favour of this idea.

As a result, this is what the team are focussing on in the first instance, and have been in conversation with The Tide Climbing Centre in Wadebridge about making it a reality.

The ultimate aim – funding dependant – would be for a professional-standard climbing wall, which could attract climbers from all over Cornwall to Helston.

“To try and deliver something on a par with what The Tide are doing we need it to be a professional climbing wall,” added Jonathan.

“We wouldn’t just have a great climbing centre, but we have fantastic climbs around our coast – so if we can make this a climbing centre for all abilities, we’d be creating something sorely missing.

“Our natural environment has some of the best climbing in the south west, so why wouldn’t we have a climbing centre here?”

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Other top requests were for roller skating (56.6%), graffiti art (53.5%), a chill out zone (48.0%), indoor skateboarding (47.0%), parkour (42.9%) and a music practice and DJ skills area (35.4%) which are also included in the plans.

Working with the Furry Youth Café and other local groups, the project team has used this information to develop the lower floor area, aimed at creating a youth and family space.

The plan is for this to include a youth cafe extension (working with the existing youth cafe building in Meneage Street), climbing wall, activity space, music practice area and a multi-use ‘venue’ area for activities such as skating, concerts, clubs and films among others.

Once operational, the intention is for the facility to have full time coverage from youth support workers.

Partnerships are also being formed with other local organisations supporting young people.

“We’re aiming to provide an amazing blank canvas for young people to engage with whatever they want to engage with – and whatever they want will be what works.

“Subject to funding applications for the next stage, we’ll definitely be involving them in how we deliver it,” added Jonathan.

Income from the new GP surgery lease will also be contributing to the running of the whole building, supporting the day-to-day costs of the lower ground floor.