A NEW £750,000 activity area for young people has opened at the National Children's Centre in Huddersfield.
The activity area opened on Thursday at the NCC's base in Brian Jackson House at New North Parade.
Brian Jackson House is an old railway warehouse which is undergoing transformation by the NCC.
The new activity area has been completed as phase one of the building's development.
Huddersfield urban dance company Suga Brown and Huddersfield hip hop group the Practical Headz performed at the opening event on Thursday.
The new area has been paid for by the NCC, The Big Lottery Fund, Kirklees Young People's Service, careers service Connexions, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, drugs advice service Lifeline, and Huddersfield Pride.
The activity area has a large space for dance, drama and music performances, alongside smaller spaces for group work or private sessions with services such as Connexions or Lifeline.
Young people will be brought to the centre either through the NCC's projects or by Kirklees Young People's Service.
Simon Cale, chief executive of the National Children's Centre, said: "The key is that it is good quality space which inspires the young people, and it is flexible so it can be used for many different things."
He said the next phase in the refurbishment of Brian Jackson House will be to turn the reception area into a parent information point.
It will act as a one-stop shop for parents wanting information or help with issues such as childcare.
A worker from the Kirklees Council Children's Information Service will be at the centre two days a week to advise parents.
Work on that project is expected to start in January. However, there are yet more plans for the building.
Mr Cale said: "In the longer term, we have got a big roof space that we want to convert.
"We have really high demand from community groups to use the building and we would like to have more space to offer them."
