Kickstarting Youth Spaces
In March of this year, Hastings Commons secured a generous grant from the Youth Investment Fund of £8.6 million. This has enabled the organisation to set up the Hastings Youth Commons: a new branch that aims to create much-needed opportunities for the younger people of this town.
Over the past four months, the Hastings Commons Youth Team have been conducting outreach with young people in Hastings. It has become increasingly apparent that young people are unsure what a youth space could provide for them, following the lockdowns and lack of funding. Hastings Commons, the overarching organisation, is a long-standing community regeneration project. It has invested in protecting public spaces for the future generations, whilst providing opportunities for intergenerational socialisation.
Hastings Commons’ mission is to take on derelict and difficult buildings in the White Rock area and create high quality community owned spaces with capped rents. Now Hastings Youth Commons hopes to involve young people in every step of the design and building process to enable the next generation to have their say on how the urban spaces of Hastings develop.
The last six months has seen the Hastings Youth Commons; in partnership with the youth charity Xtrax, working tirelessly to create a youth program informed by young people that provides a whole community approach. Through community outreach with young people and consultation with other local youth groups and educational establishments, Hastings Youth Commons has identified that young people locally need safe and warm spaces and food, alongside being interested in structured vocational activities that are less available in educational settings.
Hastings Youth Commons facilitates youth sessions and weekly meetups in the Common Room of Eagle House. Their goal is to create a third space for young people away from school and home where they can be their authentic selves supported by qualified youth workers. Having only just opened in October 2023, they are already growing. Each Friday, there is a youth-led Dungeons and Dragons group from 5pm-7pm. According to the Dungeon Master, “the people who show up for Dungeons and Dragons are very enthusiastic and excited about what’s in store!”
During Covid-19, Hastings Commons ran a successful Kickstarter scheme aimed at fostering employment for young people aged 16 to 24. Since the programme ended, 75% of the Kickstarters are now employed or studying. Inspired to continue, Hastings Youth Commons is also offering young people aged 16 to 24 the opportunity for six-month paid training placements with the team. This type of paid training has proven invaluable in progressing the careers of young people in the Hastings area.
One of the young people involved reflected, “Hastings Commons has given me the opportunity to work within the youth sector, as an area I have always been interested in, this project will help me pursue a career that will make Hastings feel safer for young people.” It feels like the start of something.
Follow @hastingsyouthcommons on TikTok and Instagram.
For more information on how you can get involved with Hastings Commons, check out: hastingscommons.com
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