 myplace Chesterfield
Heather Fawbert didn't have to go far to find the perfect spot for myplace Chesterfield. She discovered the site - an expanse of open space: tennis courts and overgrown, disused allotments that hadn't been dug for over fifteen years - on her way to work.
Heather's work is at Fairplay, a charity which works in North Derbyshire to improve opportunities for children and young people with disabilities. The myplace centre is a brand new building, soon to be Fairplay's new home, which will sit alongside the refurbished Donut Arts Centre, funded and run by Derbyshire County Council.
When both centres open at the end of this month, the idea is that young people will have the freedom and confidence to move between the two buildings: to make the most of all the new facilities on offer, and to participate in projects run by both organisations. There is also a huge opportunity to nurture the outdoor space, where the vision is to create both a sensory garden and a flower, fruit and vegetable garden, with the help of a knowledge transfer landscape architect from Sheffield University.
On a visit to the site, Ryan, Tez, Kristian, Ben and Chris all express their interest in how things are going to change for the better once myplace is open.
Ryan is on a waiting list for his own allotment, but while he is waiting, perhaps he could limber up by starting with the myplace Chesterfield gardens? He agrees that what is really needed is to get stuck in."I want to get a rotavator," he says. "And I want to keep chickens, too."
 The gardens have a dramatic view over fields and gas towers. Bakewell and Matlock lie beyond this rediscovered space where there will also be opportunities to learn drystone walling.
"We can come here and relax," says Chris, as he walks around the site. "Perhaps we can have an outdoor cinema."
Tez dreams of "water features, herbs, lavenders and bird feeders."
"And venus flytraps," suggests Chris.
Moving inside the centre, Peter Perfect, the site manager, jokes that he will try not to repeat the mistakes of the builders of the church of St Mary and All Saints. When they constructed the tower in the 13th Century, one of the materials they used was green wood. Today, one of Chesterfield's best known landmarks is the crooked spire.
Ben is confident that myplace Chesterfield is going to be a restful, homely space. He is keen to come to the centre for breakfast, not just after school or college. "I'll put a bed in here," he says. Kristian, meanwhile, is looking forward to singing and drama.
They are all excited about what's happening, and with over four hundred young people currently participating in Fairplay activities, Heather Fawbert and her team can't wait for the doors to open.
"It'll be fabulous," she says. "We've waited so long to have somewhere that's fully accessible. And it'll be great for parents to drop in."
Sue Green, assistant manager at Fairplay, says that some of the young people are keen to grow vegetables in the garden to sell at Chesterfield Market. Which is just one of many ideas that will make this project sustainable.
"People ask us, 'Where on earth do you get your inspiration?'" says Heather. "But the inspiration comes from our young people, really. They're the best inspiration ever."
Which is something Peter Koyander, the architect for the project, would agree with. An architect who realises that there's no business like snow business, Peter made sure that the roof was on just before the big freeze. He also happens to be a ski coach - his daughter Ellie Koyander is a freestyle mogul skier, who recently made Team GB and took part in the Olympics in Vancouver - and he certainly knows how to make work and learning fun.
"It's all about getting the best out of people," explains Peter. "If you're teaching a group to ski, there will be some people who look timid. You've got to encourage people, to bring them along. You kind of learn how to read body language. Ultimately, you want ten people skiing down a run, smiling."
"Peter Koyander was brilliant with the young people," says Heather. "They really warmed to him. Peter is used to men in suits, looking serious. It's been a bit different, working with us."
Peter explains that in so many building projects there are problems and politics and a blame culture which gets you nowhere fast. "With this project, we said, 'Let's enjoy the process'. And the vibe of the project has been phenomenal from day one."
"Optimism, exploration and fun" have been the driving forces of myplace Chesterfield, explains Peter. "Making design decisions with the young people was so enjoyable. This building is all about having fun in the space. With Fairplay, it's a 'Why not?' culture. If there was a problem, Heather would just say, 'Let's find a solution'. Everybody is wanting to do their best."
One of the big issues for myplace centres is how to make them sustainable on all levels. Peter Koyander explains that they have made the running of the building as cost effective as possible. Rainwater will be harvested to flush toilets. An air source heat pump will provide all the underfloor heating free of charge. Solar panels on the roof will give the centre all its electricity, and this will also heat the water. Heather is clearly delighted when she says, "We're going to be selling electricity back to the national grid."
"It's been a fairy story, really," says Peter, when he recounts how Heather found the site. "Heather saw these overgrown disused tennis courts and allotments and said 'I want that', and she telephoned Derbyshire County Council and then the next thing was that they'd said 'Yes'."
Heather believes that it's just a question of opening your eyes when you're on your way to work. "There are so many lovely things that are already there," she says. "You just have to look for them."
myplace Chesterfield in a tag
myplace Chesterfield is a joint venture between Fairplay and Derbyshire County Council. It's the refurbishment of an existing youth centre and a new build to form one complex.
Location: Springbank Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Project value: £3.1m
Doors Open: March 2010
Theme: A safe and secure environment providing activities that will promote self-confidence and a sense of well-being.
Facilities and activities:
Arts clubs
Library
Healthy living and well being projects
Information and advice services
Volunteering leading to accreditation
Placements and apprenticeships
Sensory room
Kitchen
Sensory garden
Meeting rooms
Multi-media suite
Recording studio
Dance studio
Cafe
Gardening
IT
Cooking and training in catering
Dance
Drama
Music
Film production
ASDAN qualifications
 NVQs
Links:
Parkside Community School
Job Centre Plus
Contact:
Heather Fawbert
Telephone 01246 203963
Email heather.fawbert@fair-play.co.uk
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