Top of the range facilities for youth in the area.

A YOUTH club costing �500,000 has opened its doors to future members in Stoke Newington after a total re-build.

Milton Gardens Youth Club, now called Stoke Newington Young People’s Centre, officially welcomed members old and new to its opening in Shakspeare Walk on Saturday.

The centre boasts the latest music-making technology and a series of top-of-the-range computers, along with kitchen, dance studio and creative space.

The previous centre was closed late last year and a consultation undertaken between young people and Hackney Council to find out what youths in the area wanted and how it could be best accessible for them.

Amy Nguyen, 17, of Old Street, and Leslie-Anne Orlans, 17, Shoreditch, both took part in the consultation.

“We were interested in making a change and getting young people’s voices heard,” said Amy. “There are stereotypes of young people not wanting to get involved, so we wanted to change that.”

Leslie-Ann said: “Our main role was to talk to people locally and explain to them how we would be getting the building refurbished. We wanted to see how they wanted to get the building to change.”

Council chiefs are keen for the centre to become a beacon in the borough for providing a safe and productive space for young people to learn and be creative.

Police have pledged to support the centre without being intrusive.

“Since this club opened anti-social behaviour has dropped by 30 to 40 per cent,” said Sgt Sue Wright, of Clissold safer neighbourhoods team

“We are only going to be involved when invited. This is not our club, it is theirs. We will come in and talk about issues such as stop and search and we will police the area and outside the club at closing time.”

For more information about the club and all young peoples activities in the borough visit www.younghackney.org