Young people are to get a new shelter at their skate park in Hampshire thanks to a grant from Hampshire County Council’s Youth Opportunity Fund.

The grant of £9,452 was agreed by Councillor Patricia Banks, Hampshire County Council’s Executive member for Children and families at her decision day on 10 December.

The money will pay for a new shelter at the War Memorial Skate Park in Basingstoke. A group of young people who use the skate park were instrumental in gaining the funding for the project, helping to design the shelter and working closely with detached youth workers from Hampshire County Council’s youth team on the bid application. The skate park is a valuable community leisure facility and a place where young like to meet. The shelter will enable them to use the park in all weather’s and as well as providing shelter to those watching the skaters it will have seating.

In addition to working on the bid for funding the young people also lobbied the district council of Basingstoke and Deane to provide bins for the site as well to ensure it is kept tidy.

Commenting on the bid, Councillor Patricia banks said: “ I am delighted to award this grant. The young people have worked very hard with the detached youth work team to prepare their bid and are showing great commitment to improving and developing facilities for themselves and the wider community.

“Young people do not always get the credit they deserve for working for the benefit of the community. Well done to them. I hope they enjoy their new shelter.”