33% of children in Sheffield are living in poverty, whilst 1 in 5 children and young people had a probable mental health problem. Sheffield-based youth charity Chilypep have joined forces with leading building consultancy Fourth Wall, to create a new youth centre to empower and raise the voices of children and young people across the region.
Chilypep’s current building in the Parson Cross area of Sheffield is undergoing a £1m extension and refurbishment to expand the services the charity can offer to children and young people across South Yorkshire, along with driving forward its support to the local community with a multifunctional hall for local community and sports groups to utilise, and providing broadband to the local area.
Fourth Wall has been instructed by Chilypep’s parent charity, SOAR, to deliver the project, which is not only significant to the organisation and the young people it supports but also to the local community, who will benefit from use of the extended facilities.
Construction on the building is underway, with OneSpace Interiors appointed as contractor, with completion scheduled for August 2024.
The charity is the only facility of its type in this area of the city, providing key youth services and community support. In the past year, Chilypep has engaged more than 2,300 young people and distributed more than 100 grants to support its users with clothing, food, travel and wellbeing.
Victoria Mikos is one of the local young people who has benefited from Chilypep’s work so far, having attended a Young Community Leaders course where she conducted peer consultations to find out what young people would want from the new centre, and even contributed to the funding bid, helping to secure more than £1m of funding for the charity. She attended on the first day of construction to put the first spade in the ground of the build.
The extension and refurbishment scheme will improve accessibility provision for SEN young people, include a full retrofit to meet net zero targets, and will nearly double the footprint of the site to increase the facilities available to users. Chilypep’s new facility will also provide support to the wider community through broadband provision for the local area and flexible spaces enabling them to support more children and young people across South Yorkshire.
The £1m project works are being funded by the Youth Improvement Fund grant programme which comprises over £300m of capital and revenue grants, funded by the UK Government. The scheme is one of a small number of major capital projects awarded funding in Sheffield.
Joshua Weston, founder and lead director of Fourth Wall Building Consultancy, said: “I’m delighted to see works now underway at Chilypep as we’ve worked with the team from initial assessment of the condition of the building to the conception and design of the refurbishment and extension, and now we’re on-site as Project Manager so it’s been a great journey so far.
“Being born and raised Sheffield myself, it’s a privilege to help Chilypep and SOAR as they support young people in my hometown.
“From creating a multifunctional community space, to developing accessible areas and creating a fantastic office for the team, this transformation will be so important to Chilypep and the young people they support, and I’m so pleased they chose to partner with Fourth Wall for the project.”
Lesley Pollard, CEO of Chilypep said: “It’s really exciting to now be at building stage after nearly two years of planning, during which we’ve included the ideas of our young people at every stage, and will continue to have them as part of Chilypep’s partnership group to ensure their voices remain front and centre as our new youth centre develops and grows.
“Youth clubs and youth workers are a vital and unique source of personal, social and emotional growth, opportunity and support for young people, providing trusted adults and safe spaces where they can have opportunities to learn, grow, achieve and have fun.
“Once open, this new centre will provide much needed open access youth clubs and activities for young people in the area, as well as volunteer training opportunities, a local foodbank, money and benefits advice services and a fully equipped IT suite. We’re thrilled to be able to create a space for young people to access opportunities to socialise, develop their skills and talents, try new things, and get support if they need it.”
Gill Furniss, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, said: “I welcome news of this investment into the S5 youth hub at Southey. This facility is an important hub for the community, providing vital services for young people across Sheffield.
“I commend all those involved in securing investment for this development and look forward to seeing its completion and the wide-ranging benefits it will bring to the area.”
Michael Tully, Managing Director of OneSpace Interiors said: “As Managing Director of OneSpace Group, I’m profoundly excited about our collaboration with Fourth Wall Building Consultancy and SOAR Community on the transformative Chilypep Community Centre project in Sheffield.
“This partnership underscores our collective commitment to not only revitalising a key community space but also to nurturing the potential of our youth. By working together, we aim to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a vibrant hub for young people to learn, grow, and thrive. It’s more than a building project; it’s a commitment to the future of the community and an investment in the next generation. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey and eager to see the positive impact our collective efforts will have on Sheffield and beyond.”
