A NEWPORT youth organisation that had to abandon its headquarters when it ran out of funds earlier in the year is celebrating after opening its new base.

In February Urban Circle, which runs music and art projects for young people in Newport, had to leave its popular Skinner Street office after its £225,000 grant from the Big Lottery ended.

But it has nowopened a new base in Newport bus station, which the charity rents from Newport council for a nominal fee.

Facilities include an internet café, live band equipment, graphic design facilities, video production and music production and practice equipment which young people can drop in and use.

Dennis Mackenzie, project co-ordinator of Urban Circle, said Newport council stepped in to help following a Facebook campaign and a petition put together by those who use the centre.

“We were working out of three or four homes. It was a nightmare, but now we’re ecstatic to be back,” he said.

Mr Mackenzie said the charity is making applications for small grants while also preparing to make applications to bodies such as the Big Lottery.

In the meantime the charity, which has no paid staff, is relying entirely on the help of volunteers.

Mr Mackenzie said: “I do this full time and I wouldn’t have been able to do this if the volunteers weren’t helping out with costs.”

Service user Nicola Boardman, 18, from Abertillery, has donated £1,000 – money that has been essential to get the new base open.

Urban Circle is now gearing up to host the Welsh Open B-Boy Breakdance Championship, which Mr Mackenzie says is the second biggest event of its kind in the whole of the UK.

The event is to take place on September 24 at Newport Centre. For more information visit bboywales.wordpress.

com.