Exclusive first look at new Wirral youth zone The Hive

Usually these memories will include one or more of the following - a corrugated-iron hut known as "the village hall,” doing "the bump" to the world’s most uncool disco, endless games of table-tennis, indoor soccer with a deflated "casey" heavier than many of the players and having to share a single cue for the wobbly pool table because all the others had broken tips.

Boring, boring, boring!

Artist's impression of how the The Hive will look

But forget all that because a new soon-to-open project in Birkenhead is about to turn everything on its head.

The Hive Youth Zone will hope to attract young people from across Wirral aged eight to 19 to join in a dazzling range of activities including music and media, sport, fitness and dance.

Built on Exmouth street in Birkenhead next to the fire station, the centre will offer sport, fitness, dance, music and media in a state-of-the art modern building.

But above and beyond that, The Hive aims to give youths a chance to learn important life skills as well as being a catalyst for reducing anti-social behaviour - and could lead to work placement opportunities with one of the many companies involved in the scheme.

The galaxy of activities comes from asking young people themselves.

The Boxing room - still a work in progress

A survey spoke to more than 700 young people to get their opinions on what they would like to see at the new club.

For the grand opening in April, Wirral schools will be invited to come along to try out the new facilities - subs will be 50p per session or £5 for membership.

Complete with a roof-top five-a-side pitch, a skate park and recording studio, the Hive has much to boast about.

The Globe took a tour with general manager Stuart Barnes and fundraising boss Kate Thomas.

Stuart said: “Wirral hasn’t seen anything on this scale for youth zones.

“The main area is what you’d expect from a youth club, pool tables and soft seating, but has been designed as such that there is visual connectivity with everything so young people who enter this area will see different activities taking place and see what takes their interest.

“There will also be skilled youth workers in this area who will work with the young people and get to know them as a person – whether they’re fearful or shy they’ll encourage them and go into the rooms and really start the journey of their development.

Kate Thomas and Stuart Barnes

“All activity zones are built on the ground-floor apart from the rooftop football pitch which has a lift allowing disability access and easier manageability.

“It is the first youth zone to be designed this way and even the climbing wall will be accessible for people with disabilities.

“The climbing wall will be the first feature to be seen when entering the building and can be seen from the outside.

“Safeguarding the children is our main priority. There will be barriers in place such as children of a certain age not being able to leave until a designated adult turns up to collects them.

“There will be at least 20 activities going on at any one time of a cross-section of activities and we will be working with local charities and businesses to establish important youth enterprise, work and life skills.”

Kate added: “The youth zone doesn’t turn anyone away and reaches everybody – it’s a neutral area here and from zones around the country, there has been something like a 50% decrease in crime.

“It’s the volume that got me, if we clubbed together with everyone else we wouldn’t be a rival, we’d just be a larger piece of the jigsaw.”

The centre is due for completion in April next year.

For more information on how to get involved visit www.thehiveyouthzone.org