29th June 2007

Today a milestone was reached with this project in that the legal agreement for a partnership between Bournemouth YMCA/Pokesdown Youth Club and Signpost Housing was signed and exchanged. This partnership and the funding that comes with it means that after many years of preparatory work, the new development can now go ahead and it is hoped that physical work on site will commence in early August with the demolition of the existing building.

31st March 2007

Good news on the funding front as further money has been promised that bring the available funding to nearly £2.2M which is the target required to enable the new build to go ahead. Discussions are proceeding with Signpost Housing, Bournemouth Borough, and the construction company in preparation for a possible start on site later this year.

4th April 2006

Planning consent has now been granted by Bournemouth Borough Council to demolish the current very run down building and to replace it with a new youth, community and accommodation facility. For full details, follow the links below......and watch this space.

7th November 2005

Planning application has today been submitted to Bournemouth Borough Planning Department with a revised scheme combining youth and community facilities with 18 units of accommodation for young people. The new plans can be viewed here. We need your feedback so please complete the feedback form and submit it to me.

23rd September 2005

With the change in plans to enable some young people's housing to be included, an application has today been submitted to the Housing Corporation for funding for the new scheme. An initial response is expected in the new year so watch this space for news.

5th June 2005

With the changing needs in the local area and in particular the possible need for more housing for young people, consideration is now being given to including some accommodation at Pokesdown Youth Club. The management group is therefore revisiting the plans for the development. Watch this space for news.

10th November 2004

Pokesdown Club @ 100 gets off the blocks! We are under way with the Pokesdown Club @ 100 project with the appointment of Alex Dowding who will head up and co-ordinate a group of young people looking into the social history of Pokesdown Youth Club for its centenary at Stourvale Road. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Watch this space for more info and if you are an ex member and have any stories to tell or pictures to share, please email Terry Yarrow.

23rd October 2004

Final plans for the major refurbishment and extention of the club premises are now in place. We need your feedback so please complete the feedback form and submit it to me. Our application for planning consent should be submitted early in November.

21st June 2004

Success!! Our application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has suceeded and we will receive funding of £17K for the Young Roots project entitled Pokesdown Club @100. The grant will be used to fund staff and equipment costs and will enable young people to delve into the history of Pokesdown Youth Club and to discover the roots of this 100 year old youth centre. The project will culminate in a week-long celebration for the club's centenary at the end of next year and will produce a permanent display at the new club premises.

4th June 2004

Good news and bad news! We have heard that our application to Active England for funding has not been successful in the first round, where only 19 applicants succeeded out of 130 projects submitted in the South West region. However, the Pokesdown project has been placed on a reserve list of ten further projects and may possibly receive funding later in the year. Watch this space!

2nd June 2004

Young people at the club have been talking about the difference that a new club building will make to them and what we are going to do to mark the centenary celebrations. An application to Heritage Lottery to support a project called Pokesdown Club @ 100 will give club members a chance to also explore what the club has meant to other local people over the years. We should have a decision on our application by the end of the month and will let you know. Fingers crossed....

29th March 2004

An application has been submitted to Active England for funding totalling £600K towards the possible refurbishment/rebuild scheme. We expect to hear the outcome of our application in June this year and if successful, we will be asked to submit a Business and Operational Plan in stage two of the application process.

25th March 2004

Due to ongoing delays in the launching of a substantial national funding stream that would have been ideal for the Pokesdown new-build scheme, consideration is now being given to reverting to a refurbishment of the existing premises. This would still involve some new-build to increase the current floor area and would cost around £1.4M compared to £2.9M for a total demolish and rebuild on three floors. Plans are currently being developed by the architect.

2nd October 2003

Research into possible avenues for funding has now commenced. This is a major task and there is much work to do if our vision is to become a reality for the people of Pokesdown and the surrounding areas.

15th September 2003 - Governance

The legal requirements in respect of the new scheme have now been completed and the new governing document is therefore in place and operational.

3rd June 2003 - Governance

The wording for the Charity Commission scheme has now been received and may be inspected at the Programmes Manager's Office, Bournemouth YMCA, 56 Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BS from today until 24th June 2003. Alternatively, a copy may be obtained by sending a stamped, addressed envelope to The Charity Commission, Woodfield House, Tangier, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4BL quoting reference 233589 or by visiting their website at http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk.

19th May 2003 - Planning Application Granted

The planning application to demolish the current building and rebuild a more modern facility was heard by the Planning Board today and permission was granted. The next stage is to have the plans accurately costed and then to prepare a full fundraising plan. It is expected that the fundraising stage will take at least 18 months to complete and it is hoped therefore that building work will commence during 2005.

28th March 2003 - Planning Application Resubmitted

Planning application resubmitted to Bournemouth Borough Planning Department with the plans slightly revised. It is expected that this will discussed at the May or June meeting of the Planning Committee.

28th March 2003 - Governance

Following a meeting with the Charity Commission in Taunton, an application was submitted to them for a fully governing scheme. This scheme will have the effect of making some amendments to the way the club is governed and administered in order to bring it more up to date since the previous governing documents were drawn up some 42 years ago. The changes are part of the strategy to secure the future of the work.

10th March 2003 - Fundraising

Initial rough costings have been completed for the new building and these total just over £2.9M. An initial draft fundraising plan has also been drawn up in order to raise this amount. The building plans will be fully costed by a Quantity Surveyor when planning consent has been obtained and a major drive will then commence to raise the required funding.

6th February 2003 - Planning Application

Following a meeting with the planning officers, the application for planning was temporarily withdrawn to allow some small amendments to be made to the plans. It is expected to resubmit the application shortly.

6th September 2002 - Planning Application Submitted

In August 2002 an application was submitted to Bournemouth Borough Planning Department for the proposed scheme for development of the new club premises. It is expected that this will be discussed at the October or November meeting of the Planning Committee.