Newly refurbished Grove Community Hub is a vibrant space for young people to be inspired

The charity b inspired is a community anchor and champion for Braunstone, supporting their neighbourhood and its citizens to reach their full potential, by harnessing its strengths and responding to its needs.

The Grove Community Hub’s relaunch event took place on 10^th October. The event was an opportunity to showcase the newly refurbished Hub to community groups, arts organisations and other stakeholders; including funders, the Mayor, High Sheriff and Police and Crime Commissioner. B inspired’s vision for the new space is for it to be a shared partnership Community Hub. They want it to be a Hub that other stakeholders can benefit from, including Mental Health organisations, football clubs, dance groups and many others. The re-launch event included presentations about the space and b inspired’s work, plus a tour of the newly modernised Grove Community Hub.

After b inspired successfully won a Youth Investment Fund grant of £588,113.00 last summer, the charity embarked on a major refurbishment, completing its transformation in July 2024. The grant paid for capital costs, plus some revenue funding towards staffing costs. As a result of winning the funding the whole building has had a major makeover; it’s been decorated throughout to create an impressive and welcoming building and facility for local people and visitors from across Leicestershire and beyond.

The grant has enabled a major upgrade of the hall and dance studio, with the development of a new state-of-the-art performing arts and Community Theatre space in progress. This is set to include retractable tiered seating and new audio and visual equipment. It will be a versatile and attractive space for drama, theatre and performance, as well as providing utility for large events and conferences. It’s also enabled b inspired to make the space more accessible. The first floor changing rooms space has been adapted into more usable rooms for young people and tenants. The attractive and versatile space means that they can now support more after school and holiday activities, targeted work with older young people, training courses (such as our Junior Leaders and Community Leaders courses).

There are some fantastic new facilities for young people to have fun, get active, meet new friends, and gain valuable skills for life and work. There’s a new gaming room, with a relaxed and informal environment with sofas and a range of gaming devices, large screens for group gaming, along with table-top game space and a pool table. It’s a great space for young people to chill out with friends. There is plenty of new space for young people to get active with a new 3v3 basketball court adjacent to the 4G pitch, plus space for a secure bike storage unit with bike maintenance equipment.

The Youth Investment Fund has also enabled b inspired to greatly improve energy efficiency by way of retrofitting and significantly upgrading the heating and cooling system with low energy and high efficiency boilers and climate control system – all with digital zoning functions to significantly improve energy efficiency and sustainability. The grant has also paid for PV solar panels on the roof, triple-glazed windows and LED lighting throughout.

Most importantly, this investment in the building along with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Million Hours programme has created the space and capacity to launch a whole raft of new activities for young people, seven days per week. The activities on offer include gaming club nights; youth clubs; arts club; a musical theatre programme with Curve Theatre; dance academies; football sessions; basketball sessions and more in development!