A new youth centre, offering new facilities and sessions officially opened on 9 November by Young Tower Hamlets, which is Tower Hamlets Council’s youth service.
Columbia Road Youth Centre was officially launched during National Youth Work Week, which celebrates the importance of youth work.
This year’s theme is ‘a safe space in every place’,which links to the council’s commitment to offer a safe space for all young people across the borough.
On the day, young people (aged between 11 to 19 or up to 25 with SEND) were encouraged to get involved in a range of free activities, including a Diwali arts session, cake decorating, graffiti showcase, PS5 science game, podcasting session, and have their say on the council’s youth offer.
The Deputy Mayor also attended the event, got involved in activities with the young people, spoke with some of the Young Mayor candidates and thanked the young people and youth workers for all their hard work to make this possible.
Young people also heard from the current Young Mayor, deputies and new candidates for 2023 to find out more about the upcoming elections from 4 to 10 December and the importance of voting.
Throughout the rest of Youth Work Week, young people got involved with a range of activities and sessions provided by our youth centres and partners.
The new youth centre is part of the £13.7m rebrand and expansion investment from the council that will include a ‘safe space’ in every ward. This forms part of a wider £19m investment in young people which is a key priority for the council, set out in the strategic plan.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“The opening of Columbia Road youth centre demonstrates our commitment to providing excellent opportunities and safe spaces for every young person in the borough, to improve their life chances.
“As someone who is the product of a youth service, I understand first-hand the value of youth workers as they guided, helped and supported me during my teenage years.
“We are committed to investing in young people and have funded £19m for schemes through Young Tower Hamlets, free school meals for primary and secondary school pupils, and reintroducing the Education Maintenance Allowance, and University Bursaries.”
Cllr Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, added:
“I was proud to attend the launch of Columbia Road youth centre to see that we are fulfilling our commitment as a council to offer a safe space for young people in every ward.
“It was great to be able to talk with young people on the day to hear their views, as they are playing an integral part of redesigning our youth service, Young Tower Hamlets.”
Posted on Tuesday 14th November 2023