The long-awaited fit-out of Kahu Youth’s new space at Aspiring Central is well underway.

Kahu Youth chair Randal Dobbs told the Wānaka App that construction work was approaching the mid-way point and he hoped the youth club would be back in the transformed space around the end of September.

Randal said the time between moving into its mostly bare premises and beginning the fit-out had been put to good use.

“Over that six or eight months we were able to look at our original plans and take in the input of how young people were using the space,” he said.

“We’ve changed partitions; we’ve got more creative spaces; we’re going to have a music room.

“It really is a multi-use space…the fit-out will reflect original plans and changing plans.”

During the fit-out planning period around 150 young people contributed to a mural that runs the full-length of an interior wall.

It is one of the few parts of the premises that won’t be changed during construction.

Read more: Mural breathes life into new space

Randal said Kahu Youth was particularly pleased to have so much space at Paetara Aspiring Central, which includes a large outdoor area (formerly the garden centre when Paetara was a Mitre 10).

Since Kahu Youth didn’t want to pause its operations while construction was underway its programmes have been “going out into the community”.

He said Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) had been very generous, providing space on a daily basis.

Kahu Youth had also “consolidated operations in Hāwea” during construction.

“We’re up and operating and we’re more mobile at the moment,” he said.

Funding support from a range of donors has made the Kahu Youth fit-out possible.

PHOTO: Deanna Gerlach