THERE are big plans in store for Liverpool Street University.

The alternative education path will be moving from its current Speed St location in the next couple of years and will morph into the Street Universe.

The Ted Noffs Foundation is behind the street uni and its chief executive Matt Noffs is excited about its future.

He’s hoping they’ll be moving into their new site by the end of 2018.

Mounties has sold the current site and will be providing the street uni with its new site at 403 Newbridge Rd, Moorebank costing $1 million.

Mr Noffs was a 20-something-year-old when he first met Mounties Group chief executive Greg Pickering.

He took his idea of creating a street university in Liverpool. Since then, Mounties Group has committed $2.57 million to it.

“Greg (Pickering) was the first person I approached more than 10 years ago when I first came up with the concept,” he said.

media_camera Matt Noffs and Greg Pickering. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

“I walked in with a piece of paper with a very rough idea. It would not have been possible without Greg’s ideas and input.”

Not only did Mounties provide the first building and funds to get it started, but Mr Noffs said Mr Pickering’s ideas helped create the first street university.

Mr Pickering said the street uni provided great educational opportunities for disadvantaged kids.

“Mounties is a community club and our charter is to give back to the community. It’s a perfect fit,” Mr Pickering said.

By next year there will be 10 street unis in Australia.

Mr Noffs believes its success boils down to him providing the community with an empty box to fill, rather than telling them how to start the community.

media_camera Mr Pickering and Mounties have spent $2.57m on Liverpool’s Street Uni. Here he cuts the ribbon after a a year of refurbishment.

He said that approach of sitting back and letting the community create the space would continue into the next stage.

“The young people are the ones who get to mould and sculpt it and decide where things should go,” he said.

“There is an idea being thrown around that we create a small stadium theatre. It sounds audacious but we should be dreaming bigger for our young people.

“So they can live a life we’ve all dreamt of.”

Mr Noffs said they want to keep the outside uninhibited but have the inside looking like Disneyland has landed in Liverpool.

They’re aiming to have an indoor basketball court, studios, recording space and all the other elements the street uni currently has.

It’s name will change to the Street Universe something Mr Noffs believes sits well with its transition to a bigger and better space.

There is already a committee of young people helping shape the new development. There is an architect working pro-Bono.

Koco Carey teaches hip hop

Free hip hop classes at Street Uni Liverpool Free hip hop classes at Street Uni Liverpool

Mr Noffs never dreamt there would be this many street unis in existence.

“I worked out at the beginning that there’d be six by the time I reached my 80s.

“We’ve already passed that.

“It’s all because we’ve opened it up to the young people. I love the mantra we move fast and we break things.

“Young people are nature’s innovators. They find new ways of doing things. Make mistakes and move on. That’s why we’ve been able to grow so quickly.