They had a mountain to climb to get everything ready – but an open day for a converted centre for young people went ahead.

Work to finish refurbishment at Restoration Youth, in Swale council’s former district office, was carried out just hours before the big occasion on Saturday.

Founder and director of Restoration Youth Dan Pyke, said: “Literally up to the day we were working and ensuring everything was ready.

“We’ve still got snagging bits and pieces to do but we’ve got an incredible team here – lots of volunteers and young people supporting the project.

“I am amazed how much has been done in four months. It has been incredibly hard work, especially the past two weeks.

“Maybe in some ways harder that I expected, but in other ways, things have been provided more than I expected.”

He estimated about 200 people went along as young people gave tours of the new offices to visitors and later a fashion show was held indoors.

A climbing wall was provided by Creed Outdoor Learning and there was also face painting, a bouncy castle and community chef Mike Spackman cooked up grub in his food truck.

Representatives from Sheerness and Minster youth clubs were in attendance as were people from the Isle of Sheppey Academy and Sheppey FM.

Melody Hossaini, a former candidate on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2011 who now runs a youth training company called InspirEngage, gave a speech.

Tweeting from the event, she said the place was ‘buzzing’ and the centre and young people’s work was ‘remarkable’.

Later, she tweeted: “Such a pleasure speaking at @RestoreTweet’s launch of their new centre. They’re making a difference in community!”

Mr Pyke said: “She was inspiring. She encouraged us as a community to stand together.”

Next up for Restoration Youth is an enterprise programme for young people.

The Isle of Sheppey Academy has commissioned the organisation to make a promotional video, while a two track CD is also in development.