A WHOLE-TOWN effort is transforming a key site into a youth-orientated centre that looks set to be a hive of activity.

Moves to make more of the former Wey Centre next to the Fairground car park, have been ongoing for years, but had come to nothing until Surrey County Council agreed to surrender its lease to the site owner Waverley Borough Council last year.

Lead campaigners Nadeana Simpson-Hadden and Karen Musco, who have run Street Nation Dance School from the premises for nine years, had pressed for the full potential of the building to be realised, but their rallying calls fell on deaf ears until last year’s power shift.

All that changed in March when Waverley launched a new charity - Haslemere Youth Hub - with Nadeana and Karen at the helm as managers, supported by trustees Laura Musco, Alison Rose and Haslemere borough councillors Carole King and Jim Edwards.

Seizing the opportunity to make full use of the building, Karen and Nadeana swung into action and swiftly enlisted offers of help from a host of supportive businesses keen to expand youth activities.

On the practical side, Brewers, C R Garland & Son, Symingtons and Crown Paint have actively backed the venture by providing free professional help and decorating materials to brighten up the interior, as have builders B & C Construction.

A fundraising appeal has already received more than £2,000 towards the cost of interior improvements which will include a cafe to ensure the hub also becomes a popular meeting place for all ages.

The facility, which boasts a hall big enough for basketball as well as a suite of rooms and a kitchen is now available for hire for children’s parties, and youth orientated groups Sweaty Mama, Draca, Relax Kids and My Sleep Consultant are due to join StreetNation and A Place To Be as centre users later this month.

Many more users are already signed up to move in following the official launch in September.

Nadeana and Karen said: “If it wasn’t for Waverley we wouldn’t be doing this.

“All the kids are really excited and it’s so nice to see the space being used - it’s been so frustrating for us up to now.

“There will be loads of bright young companies here and they will all be youth orientated.

“We’ve got a lovely team of trustees and helpers and we are so grateful to all our ‘hub heroes’, who are donating their time, labour and materials to make it as inviting as possible.”

Waverley finance portfolio holder and town councillor Ged Hall, who was instrumental in setting up the charity to drive the changes, said: “We’ve now got something that will be a real benefit to the town.

“Nadeana and Karen are making a great effort for the hub to succeed with the help of committed townsfolk who have given their time and labour.

“Thanks to their hard work, we have saved up to £22,000 in estimated costs. Waverley is charging a peppercorn rent for a 20 year lease and will pay for any big repairs needed.”

? For more information on how to support town youth services email [email protected].