Celebrating the refurbishment of Hawksmoor Youth Hub

Hawksmoor Youth Hub in Thamesmead has been refurbished after receiving funding from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Hawksmoor Youth Hub is a much-loved youth centre which helps provide local young people with more opportunities to learn, socialise, and take part in recreational activities, with its extensive daily activity schedule.

Councillors, council staff and key partners involved in the project came together last week at the centre to celebrate the reopening, this included a tour of the venue and hearing from young people who the centre has had an impact on.

A council spokesperson said: “I am delighted that we were able to provide funding to bring the Hawksmoor Youth Hub back to life after having had its fair share of wear and tear since it was built in the 1970s. The centre is a vital community asset and provides a sanctuary for our young people in Thamesmead and beyond.

“The new facilities will provide young people with a safe space to socialise, make new friends and learn new skills, helping children and young people to reach their full potential.”

Improvements have been made to multiple rooms inside the centre such as; the toilets, games room, sensory room, ICT room, arts room, music studio and kitchen. There was also a complete rewire of the building and upgrade to the electrical system. Improvements have been made to the outside of the building including new fencing, lighting, picnic tables, vegetable planters, paving, a flat roof cover and bike rack.

The council worked with the Met Police to improve the security of the centre following funding secured from the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme and with funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme we’ve been able to remove the old gas boiler and install a new air source heat pump, which is better for the environment. A kitchen refurbishment, installation of new floor and carpet tiles, donated furniture and newly painted walls were also completed as part of Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and Ardmore Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Value programme.

The services onsite are run by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and staff run a busy schedule with daily evening sessions for young people aged 8 to 19, including sports, cooking and arts classes. Staff are also trained to give advice to young people on issues and challenges which they might be facing.

Dedicated community nurses and health advisors are also on hand to give confidential advice, and support on a wide range of health and wellbeing issues.

At the event, it was announced that the Hawksmoor Youth Hub has won a national development award for 'Best Secured by Design Youth Refurbishment 2024' for ATLAS, which is Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) annual national security conference, held by Secured by Design.

To find out more about Hawksmoor Youth Hub and its upcoming events visit the Young Greenwich website.