upCYCLE LDN Community Hub
From "THINC Fund Large Projects (£25,000-£50,000)"
Go to the project
For the past five years, upCYCLE LDN has been using bikes to bring people together, helping young people build confidence, learn new skills and find positive pathways. We’ve seen first-hand how cycling and mentoring can change lives. Now we’re creating the upCYCLE LDN Community Hub, in Angell Town, a new safe and inspiring space where young people can learn, grow and connect through cycling, creativity and community.
We are currently in phase 1 of our renovation and are asking for £50,000 for phase 2 to help facilitate the essential works needed to get the space ready for use. This funding is vital to pay for the much-needed furnishings such as tables, chairs and workbenches, everything required to make the Hub a welcoming, practical and fully functional community space.
The space has been co-designed with young people and local residents, who have helped shape how it looks, feels and functions, from layout to materials, we’re creating a space that truly reflects the community. We are reusing what we can from the build itself and sourcing used materials wherever possible, in line with our ethos of reuse and sustainability. So far, this includes salvaged timber, sound insulation, furniture and bike equipment helping give the Hub character, longevity and a genuine local identity.
Based right in the heart of Angell Town, an area bursting with talent, creativity and potential, we will work with young people who face real challenges. Many deal with the pressures of poverty, exclusion and limited opportunities. The Hub will provide an alternative safe, positive environment where they can gain confidence, skills and support from people who understand them.
Our main focus is on young people, especially those at risk of exclusion or involvement in crime, providing them with access to skills training, qualifications and clear routes into employment. The Hub will also be open to families, local residents and community organisations, who will be able to use the space for a range of activities including bike repairs, community events, workshops, exercise sessions, exhibitions and social gatherings. It will be a welcoming environment where people of all ages can connect, learn and contribute to the life of the community.
We know it will work because we’re already part of this community. Our team and volunteers live locally, and we’ve spent years building relationships with schools, families and local groups. We’ve run pop-up bike repair sessions, youth programmes and community rides across Brixton, and every time, people ask when we’ll have a permanent base. There’s a real lack of accessible, affordable community space in Angell Town, despite the clear demand from young people, families and local organisations for somewhere safe and welcoming to connect, learn and create opportunities. The Hub will fill that gap and become a lasting resource for the area.
By supporting this project, you’ll help us finish the Hub and open its doors to everyone in Angell Town and beyond, creating a space that belongs to the community, run by the community, and built for the next generation.
https://haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk/en-GB/ideas/upcycle-ldn-community-hub