The Hive opened in April in the centre of Birkenhead backed by companies such as Cammell Laird and already seen 6,000 member come through the door – double its first year target. Tony McDonough reports

A Wirral youth charity backed by more than a dozen high profile businesses and organisations has welcomed its 6,000th member just seven months after launching.

That figure for the Hive in the centre of Birkenhead is double its target for for the whole of the first year, having been backed by companies such as Cammell Laird and Peel Land & Property.

It opened in April and and was purpose-built to provide young people on the Wirral with a safe and positive environment where they can enjoy a wide range of activities, learn new skills and raise their aspirations.

There are 38,900 10-19-year olds living in Wirral and just over 24.6% of young people in the area are living in poverty, significantly higher than the national average.

As part of the OnSide Youth Zones network, The Hive is designed to ensure its young members have “something to do, somewhere to go and someone to talk to”.

The centre offers a 4G football pitch, four-court sports hall, iconic climbing wall, fully fitted gym, skate park, music room, media room, arts and crafts areas, dance studio, boxing gym and recording studio.

Chief executive Stuart Barnes said, “We are very proud to have exceeded our membership target so quickly with members from all areas of Wirral, as it shows we are delivering exactly what young people in the borough want and need.”

The Hive has support from the following patrons towards running costs: Cammell Laird, the Bibby family, Urenco, Bagnall & Morris Waste Services, The Billington Group, Boulting Group, Andrew Collinge Hairdressing, Park Group, West Wallasey Car & Van Hire, The Contact Company, Peel Land & Property, Hill Dickinson Solicitors, Progress To Excellence, Selwyn-Lloyd Charitable Trust, Anne, Duchess of Westminster’s Charity, Russell Taylor Group, The Barton Family, Bill Tavener, Hugh & Cathy Frost, and Wirral Council.

Membership of The Hive costs £5 per year with each session at the Youth Zone costing 50p per visit. It is open 7 days a week, all year round including school holidays and Bank Holidays.