Opening the doors to new young people in Peterborough

In March 2023 YMCA Trinity Group was awarded £5.1 million to continue and develop the work The Cresset does with young people in Peterborough. Primarily a fund used for capital investment, the Youth Investment fund supports organisations who work with young people in communities. The grant will ensure the long-term future of The Cresset building and develop their youth services offer. Currently The Cresset works with up to 2,000 young people each year through our performing arts programmes. They aim to increase this work and offer more opportunities to young people across the city. In addition to the arts-based activity, a new programme of youth work will be developed, working with young people to create activities and opportunities for them to participate and gain skills, confidence, and learning. The capital funds will be used to make improvements to The Cresset building. These include:

• Replacing the roof and drainage over the whole building.
• Replacing the existing theatre seating.
• Installing an accessible theatre dressing room space.
• A new lighting rig and environmentally sustainable theatre lighting.
• A stage lift to allow accessible performance opportunities.

The most significant element of the renovation paid for by the Youth Investment Fund is the roof and drainage work. This will involve replacing some existing flat roofs with pitched, resurfacing others and re-routing and replacing old drainage channels throughout the building. Some disruption during this work is inevitable, but plans are underway to minimise the impact on our regular activity and customers as much as possible. The Cresset is celebrating 45 years in the community this year, and the team is delighted that this investment will ensure The Cresset will remain here for many years to come.