The Y want to hear from young people and the Ararat community to think of what the youth space should be and do for young people aged 12-25.

According to the 2016 Census there are 1,349 residents in Ararat in the age bracket who will be able to enjoy the new youth space.

Youth and community impact manager Larelle Kuczer said the Y was "really excited" about the project.

"Y Ballarat and Ararat Y emerged a couple of years ago so we still want to be present in the Ararat community," she said.

"I think that it will probably be a slow burn.

"We will get it open, staff it and then get a group of young people on board to help us shape it and make the decisions before it opens.

"Hopefully it will grow depending on the community's needs."

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The YMCA op shop closed at the beginning of the pandemic and has not reopened its doors.

"The decision was made to not reopen it in its current form," Ms Kuczer said.

"We are really lucky that our board is really passionate about young people and they want to see that space activated for young people.

"I think at this point it will be open a couple of afternoons a week."

Ms Kuczer said she was in contact with members of the community as to how the space should be used.

"I have developed connections with some teachers at the schools, GLLEN and the police," she said.

"So people who are working with young people in the Ararat community.

"I have started to get an idea of what the space could be and how it could be utilized to help young people."

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Ms Kuczer said the Y asked the Ararat community to contribute in the decision making process of the space.

"At the moment we have got a survey running that is aimed at community members but particularly young people," she said.

"Asking them what they think the space should be used for and what would attract them to attend, what days and times.

"The opportunity exists for a small group of interested young people to be involved in shaping the project as it comes to life."

Ms Kuczer said she started to form an idea of what the space will be.

"The survey results that we have received so far are very much in line with what adults and what people working with young people in Ararat have told us," she said.

"They want a place to hang out that has activities and fun stuff to do.

"We will have youth workers and we will probably be a combination of a place where people can drop and hang out while being supervised.

"It will also have activities, programs or groups or different things happening so that it focuses on life skills and personal development.

"As well as a space for young people to be themselves."

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Ms Kuszer said the project was flexible, to fit the needs of the community.

"We believe in the power of inspired young people," she said.

"The Y for me is such a cool place to be because we don't have hard and fast rules about what we can and can't do.

"We actually can respond to the community's needs or what the young people in the community are telling us they want."

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For further info or to make contact please visit https://yballarat.org.au/ararat-youth-space/

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