A NEW drop-in centre to provide a focus for the community will soon be created in central Hatfield thanks to a £450,000 lottery grant.

YMCA Central Hertfordshire, which has successfully run its Space youth and community centre in Welwyn Garden City for two years, has been awarded the cash to extend the concept to Hatfield, where it has earmarked Queensway House as a location.

The borough council has granted a five-year lease for the ground floor and basement, which the YMCA will spend a further £110,000 refurbishing in time for opening in the autumn.

The lottery cash will enable the YMCA to staff both centres for the next three years, relocating Space in Welwyn Garden Centre to a new undecided location when its current base is swallowed up by the expansion of Sainsbury's supermarket next door.

Robin Webb, chief executive of YMCA Central Herts, said: "“The money is a phenomenal injection of cash into the borough which will enable the YMCA to run a wide range of activities for people across the community aged 0 to 100.

"We will work with local residents and members of community to create the services they would like to see.

"Space is a place where people can just pop by for a cup of coffee, chat, make friends or take part in more formal programmes such as computer training or specific events such as parent and toddler support groups."

Although equipped with computers, the centre will be furnished with sofas and armchairs to generate a relaxed atmosphere, with a kitchen for preparation of drinks and refreshments.

Targeting needy sectors of the community including young people, pensioners, the unemployed, those with mental health problems and ethnic minorities, the YMCA plans to offer creative workshops and courses ranging from first aid to computer skills.

Council leader John Dean said: “We are delighted that the YMCA has been successful in achieving additional funding for the Space project in Hatfield.

"This venture will help to reinvigorate this part of the town centre and provide much needed activities for the young people of Hatfield."

Project development manager Christine Novelli said: "Space in Welwyn Garden City exceeded our expectations, and we want to bring the same benefits to Hatfield.

"It started as somewhere where young people could meet in the town centre, and it has evolved as more of a community centre.

"There has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the town centre, and footfall has increased - it is good for shops and for the community in general."

The centre will be staffed mainly by volunteers, and across Welwyn Hatfield the YMCA has enrolled some 50 local organisations including churches and charities as partners for the project.