Lakefield Youth Unlimited Celebrates Grand Opening Of 'The Barn' A Safe Space For Anyone To Gather

To celebrate the grand opening of the Lakefield Youth Unlimited (LYU) Barn residents gathered on Thursday evening for some rounds of axe throwing, fair games, bar-b-que and celebrations.

Just under three years ago, LYU purchased the Tribal Voices red roofed building located in the middle of the Lakefield bridge through a no-payment, no-interest loan from one of their partners.

Donations from the community then made it possible to do the needed renovations.

In total, over 50 volunteers put in close to 5,000 hours of work towards demolition, planning, framing, dry-walling, mudding, painting, clean-up, moving offices, decorating and organizing the over 4,000 square foot building.

LYU is a satellite of Kawartha Youth for Christ. Their aim is to facilitate programs in Lakefield that create a true community and offer a safe space for anyone to gather.

They offer programs like ‘Courageous Kids’ to help students overcome fear and anxiety, various after school programs and many more opportunities for youth in Lakefield to spend time with each other in a safe environment.

Throughout the summer, Peterborough Axe Club was set up in the parking lot of the LYU Barn for their summer youth league.

In addition to programs the LYU House works to meet the need of affordable housing in Lakefield for youth and families.

The LYU house is situated along the Trent River and has two individual apartments, offered at an affordable price. Tenants at this house are also offered educational, emotional, physical, and spiritual support if they wish.

Over the 19 years that LYU has been in existence, the opening of the Barn puts LYU in a position to use this facility to develop more programming using resources and people within the Village.

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