YMCA West London formally celebrated their newly refurbished facilities in South Ealing on Friday (September 19).

MPs Rupa Huq and Stephen Pound were both present to tour the building and to offer speeches at the opening.

The project provides accommodation for 151 young people, including ensuite rooms of various sizes with access to communal kitchens, cluster flats of five rooms with a shared kitchen, and self-contained studios with own kitchen and bathroom.

The nursery has expanded from 26 places to 47 in a new extension and the community café, Y Lounge, has opened for both residents and the community.

Resident Rickele Foster, 23, joined the YMCA after becoming homeless in Northolt and is now coaching and playing for his football team called Grand Union Village Football Club, which helps young people from poor and deprived areas of London to make friends and keep fit.

“I have heard of how the building was before I came and it was clearly not up to the standard we have now,” he said

“The staff has been great, they have dealt with us very well, and I am in a much better place now and I have stability.”

All rooms now come with an ensuite bathroom as the one of the biggest issues in the past centred on shared toilets.

Building work began in March 2013 and the whole project finished in June this year.

YMCA chief executive Claire Scott Booth said: “The really key thing about this is changing the lives of young people and really helping them to move on with their lives.”

Both of Ms Huq’s nephews used to come to the YMCA for judo classes and her son celebrated his sixth birthday there.

She said: “I have been coming here for many years now as a mum. The work that the YMCA does for young people is absolutely vital, particularly with high levels of youth unemployment and a rise in the number of rough sleepers in the country.”