One year ago youth charity Pie Factory Music launched a campaign to save its Ramsgate Youth Centre base from being auctioned at commercial market by Kent County Council.
As Pie awaits the outcome of its final proposal for continued occupancy of the property the charity wants to say a huge thank you to the community for its ongoing support.
Everyone is invited to join the party on Saturday 18th October from 6pm at Ramsgate Youth Centre, High Street, St Lawrence.
The event will celebrate all that’s been achieved by the charity in the past year and is the first opportunity to hear some headline findings from recent research undertaken by Pie, with Lizzie O’Halloran from Outskirts Research, to demonstrate the social value of the programmes run from the centre.
There’ll also be live music from Pie’s Emerging Artists alumni, stories from Ramsgate Youth Centre past and present, entertainment, and refreshments.
What to expect:
- Live music from Pie’s Emerging Artists alumni.
- Poetry reading from Michael Isaacs, who created a poem for the #SaveOurYouthCentre campaign.
- Young voices – Pie participants share their experiences and views.
- ‘The Youth Club Years’ with Graham Twyman book signing and reading – bring your copy of the book and Graham will sign it.
- Meet me at the youth club sonic trail by Steph Dickinson (previous Managing Director of Pie) and young people
- Inspiring impact – the stats and stories behind the charity’s vital work.
- Your take – a chance to tell Pie your views on how they’re doing and ideas on what else we can do for Thanet’s young people.
- Social network – meet the Pie team, young people and other supporters and hear about upcoming community projects.
RSVP by emailing [email protected] (places are limited to 60, so register quickly to avoid disappointment).
Pie’s CEO Zoë Carassik said: “The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride, trying to save Ramsgate Youth Centre. The constant has been the unwavering love and support from our community, so we feel it’s high time we spread some joy and hope.
“Behind every brick of our building are real-life human stories of young people, from past decades to now. The evening will bring this to life in lots of different ways, celebrating Thanet’s young people who have and still come to Pie. We hope you can join us.”
Pie Factory Music has survived a major cut to its core funding with the loss of commissioned youth services, followed by news that Kent County Council intends to sell its youth centre.
Pie has had two bids for the property rejected.
Pie factory must not be allowed to close down. The amount of resources for young people is already far from what’s needed. We must keep Pie open.
Please help to save the youth centre.It is now home for It’s your choice,adults with learning difficulties two days a week.
What is wrong with the bloody council? Without places for young people to go and feel safe they end up wandering the streets and guess what, some of them get so board they do stupid things.
People vote for lower taxes and are surprised when public services are lost. What did those voters expect?
If KCC decides to accept their bid, they’ll be in the awkward situation of having to thank a Reform council!
What a travesty if this place closes for all these young people. Why can it not be funded by lottery money or a donor be found!
I don’t think thank is the right word.We hear constant complaints about anti social behaviour;community centres are one way of reducing ASB.
Nobody likes paying council tax, but closing youth and community services,or libraries saves very little, and causes a lot of damage to the communities affected.
Who runs KCC is inconsequential;it is what KCC does is what is important.
It will still be a REFORM council that makes the decision, whichever other way you want to try to spin it in Labour’s favour.
I really hope the council take the lastest bid (they should have taken the first offer). My granddaughter loves going there. They have been going for yrs. I went there for a computer course yrs ago ( hosted by adult education )and the staff there were amazing, by putting on refreshments for all of us attending. It also keep a lot of kids off the streets in the evening. I really hope it is finally saved.
When the Ramsgate County Youth Club in Ramsgate High Street closed around 55 years ago ; the Concorde Youth Club ( now Ramsgate Pie Music Factory ) was built in its place . I did work there a couple of evenings each week , teaching table tennis ; and it was very busy with a range of activities on offer. I feel its change of name does not help it at all . It had a netball / 5 a side football pitch at the front of the building ; where a team named Aztec played netball. It was a hive of activity back then ; even though we also had the Sporting Youth Club in St. Luke’s Avenue opposite St. Luke’s Church . To lose this venue would be a disaster and crazy ; but in truth it would be par for the course as Ramsgate has suffered as a town since Westwood X was approved and built as it has gone from the largest and busiest town in Thanet to the worst town in Thanet with businesses ; banks , and big name stores all giving up — even MacDonalds — closing . I do hope the youth venue survives as it is the only surviving Youth venue in Ramsgate
I worked there 2 days a week and Pie was an activity back in 2008. It was well attended. Me and another member of staff got £10k funding for disabled ramp, toilets, the disabled friendly kitchen. I have fond memories and you never stop being a youth worker.
Let’s hope KCC keep the youth centre.