A new £3 million YMCA building, to provide accommodation with support and life skills training for 40 vulnerable young people in Reading, has been recognised for its pioneering design in crime prevention.

Reading YMCA, on Parkside Road, has a sophisticated door access, alarm, internal communication and CCTV system.

Area Inspector Graham Dix of Thames Valley Police, in Reading, will present construction company Leadbitter with the coveted Secured by Design Award to mark the high standards achieved in safety and crime prevention. A presentation will take place at the YMCA building on Parkside Road on Tuesday December 4 at 10am.

As part of the construction project, which started in March 2006 and was completed in the summer, the old Marlborough House YMCA building was demolished and a new multi-purpose complex erected.

The building, hailed as a flagship development, has also been carefully designed to fit in with the character of the area.

Inside, 28 rooms boast kitchens and en-suites and a further 12 rooms are organised into three groups of four with shared cooking facilities.  Other features include a training catering kitchen.

David Cook, Regional Director of Leadbitter, said: “We’re delighted to receive this award from Secured by Design. From the outset crime prevention was at the heart of what we wanted to achieve.

“We have worked very closely with all our stakeholder partners to achieve this goal and it is rewarding for everyone involved in the project to be recognised in such a way.

“This building will provide a safe and secure environment for its residents, who’ve experienced difficulties in the past, giving them the best possible opportunity to re-engage with main stream society.

Inspector Graham Dix added: “Leadbitter has excelled in its application of crime prevention techniques in the construction of this new building. This code ensures that crime, and the potential for crime, are factored out at the beginning of the building process by proactively designing in preventative features such as extra security lighting.”  

Vic Hills, Reading YMCA spokesman, said “Reading YMCA is delighted that the access, security and CCTV designs developed by Southern Intruder Systems (SIS) were incorporated into Leadbitter’s construction program which has culminated in this award.”                               

 “This building will provide a place of sanctuary and refuge for dozens of vulnerable young people in the Reading area.”

“The YMCA has a long and distinguished history of providing young people with a place to live. This new building will give those people an opportunity to truly thrive and contribute. It will be a place of stability where residents can adjust and get back on their feet.

“What was particularly satisfying was the way in which the community actively engaged with the Reading YMCA from the outset of the project to ensure the new building was right for the whole community. The Parkside Residents’ Association and local management groups have been very supportive.”