Two children and family wellbeing centres in Lancashire have moved a step closer to major upgrades after clearing the first hurdle in a bid to secure funding for the projects.

Lancashire County Council last month registered expressions of interest with the government-established Youth Investment Fund for schemes to overhaul facilities in Accrington and Fleetwood – and its submissions have now been accepted.   The authority next has to set out its full plans to modernise the pair.

A County Hall cabinet meeting at which the decision to bid was approved in December heard the facelifts would mean the buildings were able to accommodate more people and expand the number of groups running side-by-side – with a focus on different organisations providing wide-ranging support and activities from a single site.

A report said the full offering could include “safe space provision for young people on a Friday evening, LGBT+ groups, support for young people with additional needs and disabilities, sporting and creative activities, or one-to-one support, advice  and guidance in accessing education, training and work or mental health support”.

Having focussed its expression of interest on how the renovations could improve outcomes for young people within the 11-18 age range targeted by the fund, the full application will outline how services for that group are part of the wider “early help” work undertaken at the sites for younger children and whole families. The fund can also be used to support projects that would benefit young adults with special educational needs and disabilities up to the age of 25.

The amount being sought from the £368m nationwide pot has not been disclosed.

The New Era Centre, on Paradise Street, Accrington, would be in line for work to improve accessibility.  The majority of the potential service delivery space is located on the lower ground floor, which has to be accessed via several staircases – meaning that much of it is under-utilised.  The building also has some condition problems.

A Victorian former primary school which houses the Fleetwood facility has “a number of significant condition and carbon issues”, including its oil-fired heating system, the cabinet document added. If the funding application is successful, a ground source heat pump, solar panels and LED lighting would likely be installed. The building also needs redecoration and a new roof.

County Cllr Cosima Towneley, cabinet member for children and families, told last month’s cabinet meeting the sites were already “very well-used”, including for family safeguarding work.

A county council spokesman added: “We submitted expressions of interest to the government’s Youth Investment Fund for two Lancashire sites on December 7.

“These have been accepted and we are now progressing with the assessment process to provide more information of what the renovations would involve and how that would benefit children and young people.”