A New Home For FYA
Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre
Following a successful community consultation process, Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) has been chosen to take over the management of the Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre (SLYC).
Over the last few months, FYA has been working closely with Camden Council, alongside the current SLYC management and staff, to secure a vibrant, long-term future for this deeply valued community asset.
A New Chapter for the Community
From Monday 20th July, the Centre will officially become the new headquarters for FYA. From this fantastic base, the charity will empower local young people and families to design and lead community social action programmes, as well as continue local delivery of structured, open-access youth activities. FYA will establish a sustainable model to ensure one of Camden’s largest youth centres can continue to flourish and become a hub for young people to drive change in the community.
FYA has been a trusted fixture in the local area, delivering popular youth services and social action programmes across the Regents Park Estate for over 15 years. While moving headquarters, FYA’s vital youth provision in the Warren Street area will continue completely unaffected, alongside its ongoing peer support programmes delivered in schools and youth centres throughout Camden.
A Warm Welcome
to the Team
Andre Schott, FYA’s Founder and Chief Executive, said:
“We would like to thank the outgoing SLYC Board and the wider community for entrusting us with the care of the centre. Generations of local people have grown up attending the Lithgow. We want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of current and past SLYC staff, who worked tirelessly all these years to keep the centre going and serve local families. We are delighted to welcome many of the previous SLYC staff team into the FYA family. We look forward to working together in developing the Centre as a youth-led community space from where young people create lasting benefit for themselves, each other and the wider community.”
Tiana, age 15, a young person who attends the centre, said:
“I grew up at Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre. It is a huge part of our community. I have also been a proud member of FYA and developed lots of skills here. I am excited for FYA to be leading the SLYC. It means we still have a safe, fun place to go and we get to keep seeing the staff we already know and trust.“
Re-Imagining Community Engagement
This transition represents an extraordinary milestone for the charity, directly fulfilling a major strategic goal to find a new home for FYA. In previous planning sessions, both young people and staff noted that the current Warren Street premises were not accessible or large enough for the charity's expanding youth and community work.
As FYA approaches its 30th anniversary, operating from SLYC presents a golden opportunity to re-imagine community engagement. Over the coming months, FYA will support young people in mapping out their vision to transform the Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre into a flagship, youth-led community hub where young people develop confidence and leadership skills and organise programmes that bring the community together. The charity looks forward to collaborating with its trusted community partners and funders to make this vision a reality.
Get Involved !
For full details of the upcoming summer activity timetable, including our holiday programme starting from 20th July, please visit our timetable page.
