18 October 2024

Author:

Foxton launches memories appeal as demolition work makes way for new youth and community centre

Demolition is underway at the Foxton Youth and Community Centre to make way for a new £2.4m state-of-the-art facility which is set to open this year.

Works began on the Knowsley Street site in Avenham on March 26. Following demolition, construction will begin to create a dedicated two-storey youth services facility which will allow Foxton to offer a wider range of youth and community services including hosting multiple activity sessions at the same time.

Foxton is a Preston-based charity which offers support, safety and resources for vulnerable adults and young people in the city.

It currently operates from four sites across Preston. In addition to its youth and community work at the temporary youth centre at Oakham Court, it runs the homeless day centre on Fox Street, a 14-bed emergency hostel and provides a range of services to help vulnerable women in the city from its women’s centre on New Hall Lane.

The previous youth centre had been operating continuously since 1969, when the charity was launched by Brian Foxton. Foxton has helped thousands of young people from in and around Preston during this time. To celebrate the old centre’s impact, Foxton has launched a memory appeal for photos and memories of the old facility which will be featured at the new site.

Jeff Marsh, CEO, Foxton, said: “We’re really excited that our youth and community centre, our original home in Preston, is going to be redeveloped and we want to celebrate the building and the people who have been part of its story.

“There are people from across Preston who have attended our clubs, volunteered or even got married at the centre. We really want to hear those stories and see the photos people have. The Memory Appeal is about reminding us of Foxton’s impact on the people of Preston over the past 50 years.

“Once the new centre has been built, it will need a host of new furniture and fittings including seating for the new café and other areas, appliances for the kitchen and equipment for a range of activities for young people and we will require support from the local community for this.

“We would urge people who wish to support a local Preston charity to donate or get in touch with us to discuss how they could help us make the new centre the very best it can be for young people from in and around Preston.”

The development of the new centre is being funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Youth Investment Fund.

It has been designed by Preston-based architect Studio John Bridge and the construction of the new building will be led by Tyson Construction. The bid for the funds was secured by Foxton with the help of the organisation’s youth forum.

Following the demolition works, construction is set to begin on site on April 15 and is expected to be completed by January 2025.

Rhiannon from Foxton’s youth forum said: “The old centre was full of brilliant memories but it was outdated and in need of repair. Foxton is a safe space for a lot of people in the community and without it there would be nowhere for people to go to meet friends and make new friends.

“The new building will be a new beginning and will make sure Foxton can continue to help young people around Preston for many more years to come.”

Wilbur, who has been a youth worker at the Foxton Centre for around 30 years, said: “Giving young people in the Preston area a voice has always been a huge part of what the centre is about. Our youth forum has not only supported with the funding bid for the new building but also worked with John Bridge and the team on the design process.

“Our new centre will be something that we can be truly proud of as a community, and a place where young people, whatever their background, can go to be themselves over the coming generations.”

To share your memories and photographs of the Foxton Youth and Community Centre, please email memories@thefoxtoncentre.co.uk.

All media enquiries please contact:
Joel Durkin: Joel@freshfield.com or Simon Turner simon@freshfield.com, Freshfield PR

Find your nearest Foxton Shelter

The Big PNE Sleepout 2024

If you need support or have any inquiries, the best way to get in touch with The Foxton Centre is to visit one of our centres in Preston.

How we’ve helped.

As a volunteer at the Foxton day centre, it opened my eyes to a lot of different aspects of the day to day running of the day centre and the help that was available.

Seamus

I feel that the Foxton has a massive impact on people’s lives from what I have experienced over the last year and a half since we started delivering the art project in partnership with the Foxton.

Harris Museum and Arts Gallery

The Foxton have been a life saver for me and my partner. They have helped us get back on our feet.

Sarah

Foxton news & events.

Browse all of our news & events here
Go to Top