A MAJOR financial boost could be on its way for a project to get a new youth centre up and running in Great Yarmouth.The committee involved with the Newtown Youth Centre in Jellicoe Road has applied to ITV charity The People's Millions for a �50,000 grant for the state-of-the-art facility, which will be considerably bigger and more modern than the current centre.

A MAJOR financial boost could be on its way for a project to get a new youth centre up and running in Great Yarmouth.

The committee involved with the Newtown Youth Centre in Jellicoe Road has applied to ITV charity The People's Millions for a �50,000 grant for the state-of-the-art facility, which will be considerably bigger and more modern than the current centre.

The bid is being assessed to decide whether it should be shortlisted among regional projects which the public will then get to vote for if they want them to receive a share of a �3.5m pot of money.

The People's Millions has teamed up with the Big Lottery Fund to give the lottery money away to 69 projects which will receive �50,000 each. The scheme aims to support projects which help to transform communities and the environment.

Carl Harding, the centre's secretary, said on Monday he was expecting to hear within the next week whether ITV Anglia would be visiting Yarmouth to do a film of the youth centre, which will be broadcast following a regional news bulletin for people to cast their vote.

The final project shortlist will be announced next Wednesday.

If funding is approved, the committee will have �82,000 of the �96,000 it needs to build the new centre, providing a general function room, computer room, cookery room, music room and adult learning room.

The facility will be built on a basketball court and will measure 60x45ft, making it considerably bigger than the existing centre.

In June, the centre received a major funding boost when the Norfolk Youth Fund agreed to pay �32,000 towards the scheme.

Mr Harding said: “We are no nearer than where we were two weeks ago, but the only thing we are waiting for is the outcome of the ITV's People's Millions, but we are still doing fundraising events including sponsored walks and a parachute jump.”

Anyone who wishes to donate towards the youth centre project can call Mr Harding on 01493 300088.