Increasing access for young people and underrepresented groups
The Poplar Baths affordable housing and recreation centres development project included the Haileybury Youth Centre, which runs several sessions for local youth groups. One of the early initiatives was to provide youth club sessions for young people from the local community, providing a safe space for them to socialise and increase levels of engagement in and with the community.
However, the building wasn’t being fully used due to budget constraints. As part of our supporting initiatives that benefit communities living near to our assets, BBGI, through the Portfolio Company, committed to help fund the centre for four years.
By donating £20,000 each year, we are enabling Haileybury Youth Centre to increase its range of sessions, engage more effectively with local young people and reach out to underrepresented groups. During 2023, Haileybury Youth Centre reached around 200 more young people with over 350 hours of additional contact each week as a result of this additional funding.
BBGI’s funding through the Folera Portfolio Company is continuing into 2023/24 to help deliver a range of opportunities and access to them for different youth groups across different activities, including plans for:
- Weekly SEND Youth Club
- Community hockey programme utilising the rooftop sports pitch
- Girls summer camp
- Leadership programmes providing a diversionary programme that supports the development of young women into leadership roles and developing those in care into leadership opportunities
- Young women music programme
The Folera/BBGI funding has provided a marked increase in our ability to deliver enhanced services and activities from the Haileybury building to the local youth community whilst helping to improve our engagement with them.
Abzal Ali
Deputy Head YPS, LBTH
