Commenters on Macclesfield Nub News' Facebook page often state how there is nothing to do in the town for young people.

However, the Fermain name, once ubiquitous for youth culture in Macc, could be once so again, as a collective has been launched to get a space for young people on the site.

Organisers YouthFed chatted to Macclesfield Nub about the new vision called 'Our Space'

A YouthFed spokesperson said: "Our Space will be a dedicated place in Macclesfield for all young people providing access to indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities as well as providing personal development and other support services for local young people."

Image of the plans.

"The land formerly housed a youth club and we gave up part of that land to create the excellent Fermain Academy. With the remaining land our ambition is to resurrect the youth club as we know there are good youth activities taking place, but feel Macclesfield young people are still under-served. 

"Currently the land off Oxford Road is a grass football pitch which is used by Hurdsfield Phoenix FC. We have had ongoing conversations with the football club about our proposals and the club's Chair has supported our planning application for the site because the club see that it would produce improved facilities for young people.

"Although the club operates from the site all year, they are not able to actually use the pitch for a substantial period of months due to the boggy nature of the pitch. Improvements made through Our Space would improve this dramatically.

"Planning permission has been submitted to Cheshire East Council and we have been responding to various queries from them around our plans to ensure there is clarity on our proposals. 

Some of the activities you could find at the site.

"We are expecting a date for our application to be considered at a planning committee shortly but know that planning departments are stretched and are still processing a backlog since the pandemic."

The centre is hoped to open for six days a week, 3-9pm on weekdays and 1-4pm on a Saturday.

The centre will be accessed from both Beswick Street and Oxford Road.

It will feature things that young people value, following a survey conducted by YouthFed, from a café, bean bags, to gaming hub.

YouthFed are a registered charity.

Cooking techniques, employment skills and money management sessions could be taught at the site.

The new Macclesfield Our Space facility will require £2.5m capital to be raised, and an initial £150,000 to get it off the by round.

Securing the long-term future for the facility will require a recurring annual fund to pay for the £325,000 costs to run the facility each year. No central government funding is available.

As a result, a patron model has been opted for by YouthFed.

More info about the patron model.

"The ethos behind Our Space is very much to be a place for young people, specific to Macclesfield," added a spokesperson.

"The funding model we have adopted is intended to allow local businesses and philanthropic individuals to give back to the town, leaving a legacy by improving the future for young people in Macclesfield. 

"We are looking at other relevant funding sources including grants. We would like to thank all pledgers personally and will show potential donors first-hand the difference they will make by introducing them to our youth board to hear directly about the need for the project due to the lack of safe spaces for young people in the area.   

"Youthfed operate across the sub-region with staff delivering across our delivery areas. Specifically in Macclesfield we deliver the Pledge careers programme working with every secondary school and college and National Citizen Service, the UK's largest youth social action programme. 

Scan the QR code to find out more.

"We also deliver mental health early intervention work. We run an ongoing programme of events in Macclesfield which were based on consultations with students from Tytherington High School on what they wanted from youth events. These included science and arts events, a gaming event by the Town Hall, festival-style events in Banbury Park a joint event with another local youth charity. 

"Our Space will create new jobs for the local economy. There will be roles for a Centre Manager-type position plus various youth worker roles."

There will be a capacity of 60 kids at any one time, with the staff-to-child ratio depending on the age of those attending.

Ages 7-18 are set to benefit from the site.

"Our Space would become a valuable resource for Macclesfield as a whole," concluded a YouthFed spokesperson.

"Ultimately today's youngsters very much become tomorrow's adults, and therefore tomorrow's local economy. We want Macclesfield to thrive, to be the best place for everyone to live. By providing more opportunities for young people to develop, we improve the skills base for the town, which in turn can and will attract employers, but also contribute to the town's growth long into the future. 

"Our Space would also provides a specific space for young people within the town, which will mean a stronger town where everyone has their own place. 

"The Police tell us that youth facilities are proven to reduce instances of anti social behaviour in any area, so Our Space would also improve the town in this way."