‘This will transform our services’: The Warren secures £1.9m grant from Youth Investment Fund
‘LIKE A SECOND FAMILY’: Young people at The Warren
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Pioneering youth project The Warren has been awarded a “transformational” £1.9m grant by the Youth Investment Fund to renovate its entire 1,500sq m building and improve its youth service offer to young people across Hull and the Humber.
The organisation, based in Queens Dock Avenue in Hull city centre, called it “very welcome news for the young people of Hull” and said it would enable it to support hundreds more young people when the project is complete.
Improvements to the service will include:
Mental Health & Wellbeing facility
Sensory room
Rooftop sensory garden
Lift for disability access
Recording studio
Rehearsal room
Midi-studio
Dance studio
Theatre space
New stage
New kitchen
There will also be a new digital-hub, new heating and lighting, new windows and “many more exciting features”.
The Warren is a youth-led charity that is seen as a benchmark for how to work with young people – who played a key role in developing the plans. Their needs were central to The Warren’s application to the Youth Investment Fund.
The Warren is one of 140 youth centres in England to benefit from a Youth Investment Fund grant, announced by the funder, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the charity Social Investment Business, which is delivering the grant programme in partnership with Key Fund, National Youth Agency and Resonance.
The Youth Investment Fund is part of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee to transform and level up opportunities for young people in England.
The Youth Investment Fund, of over £300 million, aims to build, renovate, or extend youth services in the parts of the country where new spaces and new opportunities are most needed.
The Youth Investment Fund grants announced today are worth over £90m.
Work can start on site in late March and the service should open its doors to young people by November 30.
One young person at The Warren said: “This grant is so important because The Warren Youth Project has been more than just a centre to me; it’s been a second home, a place filled with cherished memories and wonderful experiences.
“The staff were not just supportive, they were like a second family to me, always there with a smile, guidance and encouragement.”
JJ Tatten, CEO of The Warren said: “This hugely generous grant from the DCMS is transformational in the most thrilling sense for our young people. It will transform their building, it will transform their lives and it will transform the working environment for our brilliant youth workers who strive tirelessly everyday to support our amazing young people.”
Councillor Linda Tock, Hull City Council portfolio holder for young people, families and learning, said: “This is brilliant news for young people and of course The Warren who I know have delivered so much for the young people of this city.
“Well done to JJ and Team Warren who I am sure will be delighted with the news of this significant investment from DCMS.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “I want to see every young person have someone to talk to, something to do, and somewhere to go outside of the classroom, no matter where they are from, to help maximise their potential in life.
“This next round of funding from the Youth Investment Fund will help nearly 20,000 more young people achieve this goal.”
Nick Temple, CEO for Social Investment Business, which leads the delivery partnership, said: “The Youth Investment Fund is transforming the youth service landscape right across the country, enabling youth centres of all shapes and sizes to enhance their services and reach more young people.
“The Youth Investment Fund is truly unlocking potential and creating a legacy for future generations of young people in communities like this across the country.”