YOUNG people are helping transform an unused building in the Pill area of Newport into a community 'hub' that could be used by up to 250 people a week.

And they are also picking up valuable training in a range of skills that could help them in the jobs market.

The building, on Church Street, is set to offer services including a community cafe, food bank, pop-up business space, a job club, and a credit union.

It is being knocked into shape over a two-week period through a project known as Design Factor, a Richard Branson-endorsed roadshow that transforms and rebuilds empty spaces and shops, working with experts and volunteers from the communities it visits.

Members of those communities are involved in the planning, design and rebuild of the empty spaces, and training covers areas such as planning, construction, managing budgets, marketing, enterprise, business, and project management, with a view to helping people into other formal training, work, or starting up their own businesses.

Organisations involved in the Pill project include Pinkspiration (a Wales-based enterprise helping people into business or setting up community projects), Pill Millennium Trust, the University of South Wales, Asda, Wates Living Space, Travis Perkins, Newport City Homes and Newport council.

“We are very excited about opening this space for the public, and based in the heart of Pill this will offer a vital provision for the whole community. On average there will be around 250 people a week using this service,” said Tracey Holyoake, of Pill Millennium Trust.