Designing A Safe Space For Local Youth
HPA are delighted to be working with local Lancaster and Morecambe charity, Escape2Make, as they make plans to develop a brand new youth centre building, for 11-18 year-olds.
The charity offers an escape for young people, to relax away from life’s pressures – whether that’s exams or emotions at home, or simply the boredom and loneliness that so many feel. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ethnicity, situation, or personal circumstances, with no one excluded from involvement.
WHAT IS ESCAPE2MAKE?
E2M run regular courses and workshops delivered by local and national companies, artists, students, and lecturers from universities and colleges. So far, these have been held at various venues, but the team require a dedicated building of their own, where young people can feel comfortable.
Escape2Make is more than just a youth club; it fills the need for a safe space for youth to hang out after school. A survey of 200 11-18-year-olds found that 79% of them felt that there was nowhere safe to go . In fact, when asked what they would want most from a new youth centre, ‘somewhere safe’ topped the list over things like having fun.
PROUD TO PLAY OUR PART
Zoe Hooton, HPA director, has been dedicated in offering her expertise to E2M free of charge. She has been heavily involved in workshops to discuss their ideas for the new centre, and arranged input from local builders, set designers, psychologists, and even magicians. Together, they aim to lay down the concepts for a truly amazing, safe, and stimulating space.
Zoe has conducted 3 workshops with the young people so far, and the organisation are trying to raise funds to provide a minibus to take them on a tour of local buildings to look for further ideas and inspiration. They are also encouraging more sketches from anyone aged 11-18 in the local area, via the suggestion box on the Escape2Make website.
Being part of the community, Zoe and the rest of HPA are pleased to deliver their expertise and Planning to be able to support their community in this way. Many of the team grew up locally and so they understand the situation and the importance of the work that is being done by E2M.
To explore our range of community projects, click here.
