JuCon - A new leisure center for children and young people
Overtaken by its own success - that's one way of putting it: The JuCon children's and youth recreation center in Bochum has established a strong children's and youth work program in recent years. However, this is precisely what has pushed the previous container building, which was built and operated as a temporary solution around 20 years ago, to its limits. In order to further expand the attractive and open offer for children and young people, a sustainable, modern new building replaced the container with funding from the ERDF NRW. It offers more space and is better suited to the current requirements of children and youth work. The aim was to create a new address for children and young people in the district, which they can make their own and use in a multifunctional way.
State-of-the-art technology
The new JuCon - short for youth container - now has around 480 square meters of space. That's 300 square meters more than in the old facility. The new building with a wooden façade is two-storey, barrier-free, equipped with an elevator and features state-of-the-art technology. A geothermal system provides heat in the building and the new solar system on the roof generates electricity. On the first floor there is a multifunctional room equipped with a pool table, table tennis table and table football. The kitchen and bistro are usually the focal point of the youth center. This is where food is cooked or baked every day, where visitors can get drinks and snacks and where staff are always ready to listen to their needs and concerns.
Two raised beds in the outdoor area
A large workroom with a bicycle workshop rounds off the facilities on the first floor. Here, visitors repair bicycles and work with wood. For example, they make birdhouses, feeding stations and insect hotels. Sustainability is a major topic in open child and youth work.
On the second floor, there is an office and a meeting room as well as a media, creative and computer room. Here, the children and young people can surf the internet, but also do their homework or write job applications and CVs. They receive support from the specialist educational staff at JuCon.
Space for external users
An additional multifunctional room with a separate entrance for external users is also located on the second floor. It offers space for around 20 people and has a small kitchen and sanitary facilities. The JuCon's outdoor area has a streetball hoop, a table tennis table and mobile soccer goals. Large seating platforms have also been provided for children and young people.
