OUR HISTORY
2INSPIRE YOUTH CENTRE
2014-2019
The 2Inspire Youth Club was established in 2014 and was located in it’s own dedicated hub at the ground floor corner of the Wendover block on the Aylesbury Estate, where we ran a full programme of activities four weekday evenings a week, as well as Saturday afternoon football and youth club, with extra activities during the school holidays.
In 2019, the young people said that they wanted to decorate the exterior and interior of their beloved 2Inspire ‘to make it feel fresh and clean, and somewhere to be proud of.’ We acquired some funding to make this happen, and worked together to paint a mural on the side of the building, reflecting the youth activities and spent two weeks on a ‘refresh project’ inside. We deep cleaned and painted every wall, bought new furniture and put up welcoming signs as well as framed artwork by the young people. We created more defined zones, so that we could run a number of activities in the building at the same time; an activity hall with a stage/dance floor and mirrors, where we could run various activities on different days including dance, drama, crafts and youth club table games (table tennis, pool, fussball) on the ground floor, an open computer area, and an enclosed lounge/talk room on the middle floor (youth team office by day) and a refreshed recording studio and podcast room on the top floor.
As we finished the project and was moving furniture in to place, following a severe overnight rain storm, water was seemingly cascading from an empty residential property above the property, which we reported immediately to Southwark Council repairs but the leak proved difficult to resolve and three weeks later in July 2019, there were multiple leak points, the water filled up full-size dustbins overnight and was running down the walls in to the electric sockets and fuse box and over the computers.
2Inspire were left with no choice but to vacate the building. We salvaged what we could and packed everything up in a day and moved to our sister site ‘InSpire’ in the Crypt of St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove – just off the Walworth Road. The flood at the 2Inspire building in 2019 continued for so long that the walls and floors were ruined by damp and mould and there was no possibility of returning.
In July 2023, Inspire relocated to Newington Tenants’ Hall on the Newington Estate, due to increased levels of premises overheads and utilities which were proving unaffordable and to ensure that more funds could be directed towards front line services.
We are actively looking for a suitable local dedicated space and are currently looking at repurposing an unused building on the Aylesbury Estate.
INSPIRE COMMUNITY CENTRE 2003-2023
Inspire first opened in 2003. Formerly known as InSpire at St Peter’s, it was the brainchild of then Rector of St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove, Father Giles Goddard. He came up with the idea of turning the crypt of this huge, Grade 1 listed, early 19th century church (once used as a WWII bomb shelter) into a non-religious, community facility for local residents, and Inspire has been serving the local community since then.
The space then housed a whole range of modern facilities, including an IT suite where people can learn computer skills; meeting rooms that are used for a wide variety of activities and services (such as Art in the Community sessions for older people) and a main hall that can accommodate up to 100 people for conferences, training days and family celebrations.
There used to be a cafe, too, which closed in 2019 and is now home to Saint Louie bakery and cafe.
Inspire relocated to Newington TRA Hall in July 2023 due to the increased levels of premises overheads and utilities at the crypt which were proving unaffordable and ensure that more funds could be directed towards front line services. Inspire is well known and highly regarded, both by residents and local partners. We have worked hard to develop strong and mutually beneficial relationships with a range of local partners including Southwark Council, Southwark Family Nurse Partnership, Guys & St Thomas Trust, South London & Maudsley NHS Trust (SLAM), other voluntary voluntary and community organisations through the Walworth Community Partnership and the main building development companies responsible for the Aylesbury Estate and Elephant & Castle regeneration programme, including Lendlease, L&Q, Fabrix London and Notting Hill Genesis. Our partners refer local people to us for support and where any of our beneficiaries need assistance that we are unable to provide, we have built up an active network to rely on who can assist more complex cases. We renamed our charity from ‘InSpire at St Peter’s’ to ‘Inspire Walworth’ to better reflect our commitment to serving the Walworth community after we moved from the crypt.
We continue to be known locally as ‘Inspire’.
PRESENT DAY
OUR SEARCH FOR A DEDICATED YOUTH HUB
Our Youth Programme is currently only able to run for a limited time two evenings a week at Newington Tenants’ Hall on the Newington Estate. Since leaving our dedicated space on the Aylesbury Estate in July 2019, we have been searching for a suitable dedicated youth space to enable us to re-establish our popular full weekly youth activity programme. Since moving from the crypt at St Peter’s in July 2023, we have been renting space at Newington Tenants’ Hall for some of our youth activities, and working from home, when we would have been working from the same space in the past, allowing young people to use the space for various activities, workshops, projects and social opportunities. The Employment Support and Parent Support programmes have also taken place in other local venues and meeting places.
We are looking for our own building or space that we can base ourselves, so young people have somewhere to go. We need to stay in Walworth SE17, or on the periphery eg. Burgess Park, Elephant & Castle, so that we can continue to serve the local community and young people. We are currently looking at repurposing buildings on the Aylesbury Estate that will otherwise be left empty and unused for many years until they reach their allocated phase of the regeneration plans.
Having a dedicated youth building offers numerous benefits compared to renting space in various buildings around the community. Here are several key advantages.
- Consistency and Stability
- Permanent Space: A dedicated building provides a stable location where young people can reliably go. This consistency fosters a sense of belonging and security.
- Community Hub: It becomes a central, recognisable place for youth activities, enhancing community cohesion and identity.
- Customisation and Personalisation
- Tailored Facilities: A dedicated building can be designed and modified to suit the specific needs and interests of young people, including spaces for sports, arts, study, and socialising.
- Ownership: When young people see a space as their own, they are more likely to take care of it and feel a sense of pride and responsibility.
- Programme Continuity and Flexibility
- Uninterrupted Programmes: Programmes can run without interruptions that might occur due to scheduling conflicts or availability issues in rented spaces.
- Flexible Scheduling: Having a dedicated space allows for more flexible and extended hours of operation, accommodating different schedules and needs.
- Community Engagement and Support
- Resource Centre: It can serve as a hub for resources and support services, such as counselling, tutoring, and job training, all in one accessible location.
- Local Partnerships: A permanent facility can establish long-term partnerships with local businesses, schools, and organisations, enhancing the support network for young people.
- Long Term Investment
- Capital Funds:
- Funding Opportunities: A dedicated youth centre can attract funding and donations that are specifically aimed at supporting community infrastructure.
- Enhanced Safety and Supervision
- Controlled Environment: A dedicated building provides a controlled environment where safety and security measures can be consistently implemented and monitored.
- Familiar Staff: Regular staff can build better relationships with the youth, providing a stable and supportive presence.
- Empowerment and Skill Development
- Self-Expression: Young people can explore their interests and hobbies freely in a space designed for their activities, fostering creativity and personal growth.
- Leadership Opportunities: The centre can provide leadership roles and responsibilities for youth, such as organising events and managing aspects of the facility.
- Social Inclusion and Community Building
- Inclusive Space: A dedicated youth building can be designed to be inclusive and accessible to all young people, including those with disabilities or other challenges.
- Community Events: It can host community events that bring together families, residents, and local organisations, strengthening community ties.
- Mental and Physical Well-being
- Safe Haven: For young people living in flats without outdoor space, a youth centre offers a much-needed venue for physical activities, relaxation, and social interaction.
- Mental Health: Access to a supportive community space can significantly contribute to the mental well-being of young people, offering a break from potentially stressful home environments.
Most importantly the hundreds of young people we speak to every year say that they want a safe dedicated place to go to.
If you would like to find out more about our search or are keen to help us in our efforts to acquire a building, please get in touch.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP US CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO
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