Oxford City Council is celebrating after securing £450,000 in National Lottery funding from the Reaching Communities programme to support the Leys Youth Hub.
This vital funding will help sustain the staffing team and activity programme over the next four years, ensuring the hub provides opportunities for young people in Blackbird Leys.
The Leys Youth Hub, located at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, last year received funding from the Youth Investment Fund to create a dedicated space for young people. The new facility, which will be run by Oxford City Council’s Youth Ambition service and is in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS), will feature a climbing wall, teaching kitchen, music and media studio and social areas, offering a diverse range of activities designed to empower and engage young people.
Construction contractors ODS started the building work on site in September 2024, with the Youth Hub expected to open at the end of Spring 2025.
The additional funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, will be crucial in supporting the hub’s operations for its first four years, with a tapered approach in the third and fourth years to work towards a sustainable, community-led model. The Youth Investment Fund has funded the construction work and staffing programme to date.
Oxford City Council will continue working closely with partners, including Oxfordshire County Council’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS), and young people to shape the programme and ensure it meets the needs of the local community.
Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy Oxford, said:
“We are delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which will make a real difference to young people in Blackbird Leys. The Leys Youth Hub is an investment in their future, providing a safe and supportive space where they can develop new skills, build their confidence, and have their own community space to form connections and have fun. This funding ensures we can continue to deliver a high-quality programme that truly benefits the community, and I’m looking forward to seeing the newly-completed Hub open soon!”
Helen Bushell, Head of Regional Funding for London, the South East and East at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re proud to support amazing projects like the Leys Youth Hub, which strengthens society and helps the community in Oxford come together. We know the best way for children and young people to achieve their potential is by helping them connect with others and enjoy enriching activities, empowering them to shape the decisions that affect their communities.”
Nick Temple, CEO for Social Investment Business, delivery partner for the Youth Investment Fund, added:
“Securing National Lottery Funding for the Leys Youth Hub is very welcome news for young people in Blackbird Leys. The Youth Investment Fund is all about prioritising the needs of young people and creating a more equal society for future generations. Along with funding the building and renovation of hundreds of youth centres across England, we want to make sure that they are sustainable long into the future, so young people have every opportunity to have fun, make friends and explore their passions. We are thrilled that the Leys Youth Hub has a secure future and look forward to celebrating when the new building opens its doors to young people in Spring.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
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