YOUNG people can enjoy new and improved facilities at their youth centre, thanks to a £12,000 grant.

Eynsham Youth Centre, which meets twice a week, has created a chill-out room, along with health drop-in session Bodyzone on Tuesday lunchtimes.

Youth worker Marion Harley said: “We have seen an increase in members over the last few months.

“The refurbishment and the equipment we have here now has really made a difference – it’s really positive.”

A new sofa has been bought for the chill-out room, along with a television, Xbox and Wii. The room doubles up as a relaxing space for the Bodyzone clinic.

The main area has been separated into a sports hall and a room with sofas, widescreen television and computer work station. This will soon have an iMac computer for music and video editing.

The music room also has a new drum kit, guitars and CD decks.

Youth worker Mike How said: “The last six to nine months have seen the centre go through some uncertainty and change, but with the building getting a much-needed injection of cash and with the young people’s involvement, we have been able to create somewhere that’s positive and safe.

“We have been able to open up the centre for more sessions and are now providing a varied programme of activities, including art, music, dance and sporting opportunities alongside the issue-based work around subjects such as alcohol and drugs, and sexual health and relationships. As a direct result, numbers have doubled since last summer.”

The centre, in Back Lane, has 45 members, aged 12-18, who meet on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7-9.30pm.

A youth committee also meets monthly.

Regular member Hannah Few, 14, said: “Spending money on the youth centre was a good idea because we needed a lot of things done up.

“We are very happy that we still have somewhere to stay out of trouble, have fun and chill out.”

Work started over Christmas.

The cash came from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, the Youth Opportunities Fund and the county council.