A new youth centre – to be built in a former brewery in Lancaster – will address the shortage of safe and dedicated spaces for young people to escape boredom, loneliness, and social media.
Escape2Make (E2M), an inclusive youth charity in Lancaster and Morecambe, is developing the creative hub for 11-18-year-olds.
The designs have been worked on by young people from E2M’s architecture group over the past four years, with help from local architects HPA and more recently Urban Place Network.
Jack, aged 15 from Lancaster said: “I wouldn’t be here without Escape2Make. The building is going to be so important for young people, so they don’t go through a bad time, like I did with my mental health…and get in trouble with the police.”
It’s hoped the building will be fully functional by 2028 and will provide young people with free hands-on creative workshops and community events.
Bill Kistler, E2M’s chair, and a former VP of Disney and an expert in urban regeneration, said: “This project is a movement rather than just a building. By empowering young people to co-design and co-create their own spaces, E2M aims to unlock their potential as the next generation of leaders and change-makers.”
The project has gained support from Lancaster University, local businesses and stakeholders in the arts, education, and social services sectors.
The centre will become a symbol of youth development and cultural regeneration, not only in Lancaster but also across the UK and beyond.
13/02/25
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