NEWTOWN Youth Centre's plan for an eco-friendly building for young people has received a £5,000 boost from a newly-formed trust dedicated to helping coastal and fishing communities.

NEWTOWN Youth Centre's plan for an eco-friendly building for young people has received a £5,000 boost from a newly-formed trust dedicated to helping coastal and fishing communities.

Coastal Marine Trust, which was established last year, chose to hand out its first grant to the project because it matched its aims to enhance the quality of life for people living in Britain's coastal communities.

The grant will pay for a viability study for the scheme, which includes a state of the art eco friendly building housing an educational centre for children who need help beyond the main frame of modern education, and a facility to promote renewable energy and recycling to future generations.

The centre's building coordinator, Carl Harding said the study was the first step in preparing a bid for the Lottery Commission, adding: “This is fantastic for the children and will help us move the project towards the next level.

“The grant from Coastal Marine Trust is a huge step forward in getting this project off the drawing board and turning it into a reality.”

“The new centre in Jellicoe Road, was designed by children who currently use an old trailer as their clubhouse, and would be the only one of its type in the UK with a grass and flower roof to prevent heat escaping and keep carbon emissions low.”

Coastal Marine Trust's funds come from a percentage of every project undertaken by marine cable management company, Offshore Marine Management (OMM), which works with clients in the offshore renewable, subsea telecoms and oil and gas industries.

Operations manager, Rob Grimmond said the Trust was established to ensure the company gave something back to the communities in which they work. Work was awarded to OMM by their clients EON and Vesta's on the Scroby Sands windfarm.

“We feel strongly that companies need to be socially responsible in what they do, not just what they say.”

“It's very rewarding to be able to help deserving organisations such as Newtown Youth Centre and we are hopeful this money will help set them on the path to building their fantastic eco centre.”