Teenagers in Whitehill & Bordon have a new place to call their own after a youth charity finally found a permanent home.

Y Plus Youth Services has opened a hub inside The Forest Shopping Centre, replacing its former base in an old army building at Enterprise Park, opposite Oakmoor School, which was earmarked for redevelopment.

The move gives the charity a dedicated town-centre space to run activities and provide support for young people, with plans to expand its opening hours if further funding can be secured.

The new premises follow a busy summer in which Y Plus worked with 519 young people, delivered 454 hours of activity and distributed more than 1,000 fresh meals.

The charity also organised funded trips for 123 young people, including visits to Thorpe Park, swimming venues, a high ropes course and the seaside.

Y Plus was formed in 2022, building on youth work in the area dating back to 2017.

The search for a replacement ended after Cllr Andy Tree introduced the charity to Forest Shopping Centre owners Chris Willans and John Daily, who offered Y Plus a unit.

Jodie Gibbs-Farrow, co-founder of Y Plus, said: “Finding a suitable location for teenagers in Bordon has been a multi-year quest. We are immensely grateful to The Forest Shopping Centre for supporting us, and to Andy Tree for bringing us together.”

She added that providing a welcoming environment for young people could help tackle boredom and anti-social behaviour while creating lasting benefits for the community.

After completing the programme, staff transformed the new Bordon unit in just a few days, painting, fitting carpets and creating a space designed around teenagers’ interests.

The charity is now seeking funding to expand the hub’s opening hours, with plans for several evening and daytime sessions each week.