£1.2m transformation of Riverside Youth Club in Deptford reaches halfway point
Major work to revitalise and expand the Riverside Youth Club in Deptford is now halfway to completion.
Since construction started in January 2024, contractors have made significant progress, creating a large new extension with changing facilities, showers and a roof terrace overlooking the pitch areas.
They have also completed a new main entrance and front extension and significantly rejigged the interior, with walls knocked through to create much larger and flexible activity and engagement spaces for young people and the community, including a new kitchen and welcoming entrance.
The focus in the coming months will shift to completing the refurbishments and a complete overhaul of electrical and heating systems.
Contractors will also install new pitch fencing, and floodlighting, and the new high quality 3G artificial pitch at the Grove Road complex.
The £1.2m project is being delivered by Lewisham council in partnership with Youth First and Millwall Community Trust. This has been made possible by a £745,000 grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
This was supported by a further public campaign led by Youth First resulting in substantial donations from private donors and local trusts and foundations to secure the award.
The revitalised Riverside Youth Club is set to o pen its doors in spring 2025.
Chris Barnham, Lewisham council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This is a hugely ambitious and complex project and I’m very pleased for the local community that the end is finally in sight.
“Thanks to the hard work of our partners and contractors, I am sure that it will be worth the wait, with so many fantastic features to look forward to – from football pitches to games areas and much more besides.”
Chris Price, chief executive at Youth First Charity, who will run youth services at Riverside, said: “We’re so thrilled about the exciting progress on Riverside’s redevelopment. We are ramping up fundraising to kit out its facilities with high quality equipment, and connecting with people who are keen to put to good use the brilliant new spaces.
Joubin Sarrami, community manager at Millwall Community Trust, said: “This is an extremely exciting project that will benefit so many young people and residents that come to use the riverside facility.
“We are looking forward to its doors opening in spring 2025 and there being a wide range of youth activities on offer for the local community.”
Pictured top: The newly-built front entrance at the revitalised Riverside Youth Club (Picture: LB Lewisham)