YOUNG people from military families on Merseyside are being invited to share new experiences at The Hive free of charge.

The state-of-the-art Birkenhead youth zone has been awarded cash from the Libor Grant Scheme to deliver a ten-month project aimed at helping current or ex-serving military families as part of the 'Force for Good Project'.

Any child or young person aged eight to 19, 25 for anyone with additional needs, from a military family will be able to attend The Hive for no admission fee.

Children and young people from military families on Merseyside are being invited to share new experiences, make friends and learn new skills at The Hive, Wirral’s state-of-the-art youth facility.

The Force for Good project will also help military families who utilise The Hive to make social links with other families from the military community and with local services that can support them with any identified issues.

Project co-ordinator Dean Cattell, who is helping to deliver Force for Good at The Hive said: “While most of those who leave the armed forces make successful transitions there are still a significant amount of people who encounter difficulties.

"This can have a negative impact on military families from a social and financial aspect - leaving many children feeling vulnerable and excluded.

"With its fantastic range of facilities and passionate, supportive team, The Hive is the ideal place for these young people to rediscover their confidence, improve their mental well-being and broaden their horizons.”

A Force for Good open launch event will be held on Saturday, February 17 between 2.15pm and 4pm.

Anybody interested in the scheme is invited to attend, take a tour of The Hive, try out some family-focused activities and find out more about the project.

Families officer at Liverpool Veterans HQ Kevin Archer said: “This fantastic project brings together serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families.

"The military is a community in itself that has a 'family' sense of belonging but we need to see that permeating down to individual family units.

"The Hive is providing military personnel, veterans and their families with a place to get together outside of the military environment - allowing parents to be involved and bond with their children whilst having fun."

For more informationon Force for Good at The Hive can contact Dean Cattell on 0151 705 8000 or email dean.cattell@thehiveyouthzone.org