The hub, located at Rugby Central shopping centre, offered young people a place to meet friends, participate in activities, and receive advice on staying safe. Of the 64 young people who provided feedback, 61 rated their experience as excellent or good. Furthermore, 25 out of 28 participants reported that the hub helped keep them occupied and out of trouble.
The project was led by the council’s community safety team through the Rugby Community Safety Partnership. Council community wardens contributed 51 hours across the 17 sessions, helping to set up and run the hub and build positive relationships with attendees.
Key partners in the initiative included Guiding Young Minds, Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County Council, Hill Street Youth and Community Centre, Orbit, Assist Trauma Care, GLL, and Rugby Central security. Rugby Central provided the unit free of charge, while businesses and volunteers donated equipment, refreshments, and their time. The project also received £15,000 from the Home Office Serious Violence Duty grant.
“"The Summer Youth Hub gave young people a safe and welcoming place to spend time, try new activities and get advice and support. I want to thank our community safety team and community wardens, who set up and ran the hub. Our wardens gave 51 hours across the 17 sessions and built positive relationships with young people. This was partnership working at its best. Organisations, businesses and volunteers brought their skills and resources together to create something young people clearly valued."
“"This was a great thing to do for the young people of Rugby. As part of the budget process we will be exploring how we can maintain this initiative and also involve young people in the decision-making process."
Feedback gathered from young people about Rugby will inform the partnership’s future work, including youth engagement and the town centre CCTV upgrade programme.
