Young People in North Sheffield celebrate their new look youth hub

Working in partnership, SOAR Community and Chilypep held a special event to celebrate their new youth hub funded by the UK Government’s Youth Investment Fund. A grant of over £1.4M has transformed the youth space and strengthened Chilypep’s youth work offer.

The newly renovated youth hub is run by Chilypep (Children’s and Young People’s Empowerment Project), a charity dedicated to raising the voices of young people and giving them the confidence, influence and platform to shape their world and stay connected. It’s based in a building owned by the community regeneration charity SOAR, that provides a range of services designed to improve a person’s health, wellbeing and employability.

The celebration event took place on 13 February 2025. The two guests of honour are Grace and Victoria, two young people whose passions and ideas shaped the Youth Investment Fund bid and played a key role in securing the £1.4M grant. The Rt Hon Lord Blunkett of Brightside and Hillsborough and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Jayne Dunn, cut the ribbon and led the celebrations.

The Rt Hon Lord Blunkett of Brightside and Hillsborough said:

“As Patron of Chilypep and previously a long-time MP representing a large part of North Sheffield (and having been brought up at Southey), I have followed and supported the work of Chilypep and SOAR and am very pleased that they have come together with Sheffield City Council to bring this much needed project for young people to fruition. The young people of North Sheffield deserve youth facilities that meet their needs and help them to aspire to reach their full potential. I’m particularly encouraged that young people themselves have been involved in this project from the start, shaping their own community spaces and showing the positive contribution that they make to their communities.”  

A new era

It’s a new phase in Chilypep’s journey, over the next few months, the charity, in partnership with Sheffield City Council’s Community Youth Services, will be woking with young people to shape their youth work offer, including when young people think they should open, what sessions they could run, and even what they will call the new building. The charity also wants to attract new volunteers to make the space sustainable, share ideas and put the community at the heart of the new space.

Megan Ohri. Partnership Manager for SOAR Community added:

“We’re thrilled to have been able to work in partnership with Chilypep to bring a new lease of life to this building and develop it into a vital hub for young people and the community in Southey. I hate to think what would have happened to the building if we hadn’t had this funding. It’s been brilliant to see the young people’s visions for the building being realised and we hope the community love the space as much as we do.”

A versatile space for the whole community

The Youth Investment Fund has paid for a major renovation and extension, opening up the space and making it accessible to all young people. The new-look youth hub includes a large activity space for dance, sports and drama. There’s also a new digital hub where young people can have fun and do their homework.

It’s a versatile space that can also be used by the community, providing extra space for the local food bank. There’s a new kitchen for providing nourishing meals and giving young people the opportunity to cook for themselves and learn new skills. It’s also a place where everyone feels safe, with a new CCTV system. It’s modernised the space throughout, making it more efficient and creating a warm and welcoming facility.

Strengthening their youth offer

Young people’s voices are at the heart of the new youth hub and Chilypep’s ethos and values. Chilypep has engaged with young people throughout the project’s development and build, from informing the building plans to sharing how they want to use it.

The Youth Investment Fund has delivered much more than bricks and mortar. It’s also enabled Chilypep to develop a long-term fundraising strategy, and grow its youth work team, including a new part-time youth work co-ordinator and two part-time youth workers. The team has worked closely with Sheffield City Council’s Community Youth Services, to plan the next steps working collaboratively to co-deliver a youth work program.

Councillor Dawn Dale Chair of Sheffield City Council Education Children’s and Families Committee said

“This is a fantastic celebration of the effort to modernise spaces for young people in the city, it’s exciting to know we have more on the way – right now however for young people in north Sheffield this is a fantastic opportunity to access support, find a space to relax with friends and build relationships with trusted adults in their community. Collaboration to build our growing youth sector is essential and I know through strong youth work delivery young people will create meaningful friendships and memories; and ultimately a sense of belonging in this wonderful new space. I am excited that we can support Chilypep and Soar in this going forwards.”