INSPIRATION'S

"Creative youth centre's - Where did the idea come from?"

For my final university project I have chosen to do a project which evolves around creating youth centres which provide everything a young individual will need to create and express themselves in art form - From the equipment to volunteers and then the platform which will help them showcase their work to the world, this project revolves enitirely around the creating opportunity and prosperity in places geographically and socially that have been deprived by the government through lack of funding and lack of care. From this we have seen the increase of many social issues such as poverty, gang violence and crime that damages not just individuals but communities and society as a whole.

For a better understanding of how I will be able to deliver such a project I must research and find already existing businesses and projects that are already at the for front of this venture

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"Space Place and Urban Development."

"spudYOUTH is an award winning workshop programme being run for young people aged 12 and upwards who are interested in architecture, urban design and public art. ​ You will have the opportunity to work with professional architects, designers and student architects in the spudWORKS studios. You will learn new skills and knowledge that will enhance your existing studies, add significantly to your portfolios and help you stand out from others, particularly with university applications. You will be able to work on live design proposals and present your ideas and opinions to councillors, local authority officers and other professionals. spudYOUTH aims to give YOU a real voice amongst decision makers in the your local area."

Sounds good to me...

spudYOUTH have created incredible opportunities for young people in Hampshire to be able to get involved and work on live projects that will be developed into a finished product which will be exhibited or used by the public - And these opportunities are for FREE.

Why is this so good? spudYOUTH list out some of the benefits:

• Learn what makes a quality place to live

• Make a difference in your community

• Work in a real studio environment with professional designers

• Improve your design skills, communication, confidence, presentation, organisation and team work

• Enhance your portfolio and CV for college interviews

• Speak to key decision makers in your community

• Use spudYOUTH as part of Arts Award

• Meet new people and have fun!

Although spud and spudYOUTH is architecture base, the benefits are extremely broad in the fact that you develop communication skills and the ability to solve problems in a clear, coherent way while working with other individuals. Skills like this are very important for not just for the present but the future when searching for jobs or even just working on a project yourself.

The projects that spud and spudYOUTH work on vary in size and category of what is expected - Is it to develop a pre existing public space? Is it to build a structure? The variation keeps it exciting and although some may be better than others (an opinion someone may have), they are still real projects that mean something and that is the most valuable part.

"The Handlebar Cafe"

'The Handlebar Cafe is an ongoing project organised by young students from various schools and colleges in Winchester and the New Forest who have particpated in the spudYOUTH workshops. The original concept design (above) was developed by Alex Grice,

a young spudYOUTH participant.

Having presented the idea to Winchester City Council and to the Town Forum, spud and the student participants were invited to develop the designs further and explore whether this was a feasible design. An intensive series of workshops held in April 2015, supported by Winchester City Council, University of Portsmouth, ArchitecturePLB and other commercial organisations developed the plans, designs and business case more fully.

The cafe is to be located near a popular cycle path in Winchester and a short distance from St Catherines Hill.

The idea is that friends and families will be able to purchase delicious food and drinks at a unique cafe after their cycle ride or walk, with gorgeous views back across the meadows to St Cross. You don't have to be a cyclist, anyone can visit and enjoy the delicious meals and drinks the cafe offers. People can arrive and hire a bike or if your bike is damaged you can get basic repairs and purchase bicycle parts and accessories.

It is intended that the Cycle Cafe will be open year round, serving the many people who enjoy this fantastic location.

In addition to the cafe operating at a commercial level, spudYOUTH are exploring the potential to develop the business as a form of social enterprise. The cafe could provide valuable opportunities for work experience for college students, apprenticeships and work placements for long-term unemployed. Identifying potential partnerships with a local college and a commercial cafe operator will form a strategic part of the development.'

What I think are the most important parts of the Handlebar Cafe project:

• The spudYOUTH (young individuals) helped conceptualise and design this project

• The spud team used the designs and developed them into the planning stage

• Funding was found (£250,000) and delivered by various private companies and charities

• The Cafe has future planning to become a social enterprise scheme helping young people become employed as well as helping people who have struggled with unemployment, find a job.

The idea of creating a project by allowing young people to get a chance to create and come up with the ideas is powerful. As well as this, then using this successful project to then help young people in other ways such as employment creates a cycle in which the project then creates more benefits and opportunities for the community that it is in.

This ethos of giving opportunities to young people in the communities to then create something in which the entire community benefits from is a huge inspiration to me and my project as, SPUD have done it, this is what I want to do in the sense of giving opportunities to young people and from that creating prosperity within the community.

As of now, SPUD and spudYOUTH are based at spudWORKS which is a creative work space in Sway in Hampshire. This space allows for individuals to hire sections of it to work and create which I think is again a very nice opportunity for the community to have a place to develop ideas and get involved with SPUD.

It is a beautiful building and acts a community social hub of all ages - Which I think is very important regarding my project.

"Like-minded people, opportunities for networking plus workshops

and exhibition space."

"United under one shared passion."

Skate World Better is a charitable organisation in Africa which strives to build skateparks in different areas of Africa in hope to bring the community together. As well as building the skateparks they also provide skateboards, equipment and educational programmes.

What I think is most important with this business is the simplicity in how they managed to achieve their goal which is to help a community in more ways than one. Building a skatepark and allowing children and adults to enjoy the sport of skateboarding is a tremendous achievement, but they have been able to grow this into not only bringing a sport to a deprived area but also a place for the community to socialise and to learn.

We all know the power of sport - This is a perfect example of it bringing a community together and creating so many great opportunities for the community to then flourish.

I think this is an important factor which I need to take on board when working on my project - How do I allow a community to benefit so much off one simple element? Is it a creative workshop? Is it the space itself? Is it the activity? The equipment?

"Home of the up and coming."

Although Blackbox is not a charity, they have helped many many youth individuals that have been dealt the harsh cards in life and have had to grind and work hard to make their life better.

Blackbox is a platform which hosts 'freestyle cyphers' performed by rappers of as young as 16 which are then uploaded to its media channels in hope to get the artist/s recognition. Again, it is not a charity, but it is cheap and accessible and most importantly, it is popular with the youth of today - Many big names such as Dave have been on Blackbox Cypher making it an iconic platform.

Dave, one of the biggest UK artists, was once on blackbox performing a freestyle at the age of 16. His cypher went viral, getting millions of views and set him on the path to success.

What is most important about this business and this platform is that it is extremely accessible and also very popular, it has built a name for itself and has shown that allowing young individuals in to perform, talent will be found and careers will start - Maybe even growing into the level of Dave.

I find this to be one of the most vital aspects, I want my youth centres to be accessible, yes, but I want it to carry a name that young people get behind and want to get involved with, it can be as accessible as it wants, but if it doesnt supply the right workshops, spaces, activities etc. then no one will want to come - It's like buying into a clothing brand - What will make them want to wear it on their chest? Why will they be proud to be a part of it?

"We are the voice of young London."

Just like Blackbox, Reprezent are a platform that supports the youth of London. Based in Peckham, Reprezent Radio delivers the newest sound of London. The DJ's and presenters have had previous experience experience in the music industry meaning they have unique insight and taste which makes Reprezent radio extremely exciting.

As well as having a very strong roster of hosts, DJ's and presenters, they also host one of the only only - student ran radio station meaning they are giving back to the community in more ways than one.

Reprezent radio is a really strong example of building a brand extremely well without spending millions on equipment and studios, the channel being based in shipping containers in Peckham but still delivers this level of a multi media platform is impressive to say the least.

This is another great example of bringing the industry as well as professionals in the sector and young individuals who would not normally get chances like this.

"Melts down knives taken off the streets."

We use street workout to transform the lives of young people affected by crime, violence and social exclusion, giving them the skills and confidence to achieve seemingly impossible goals.

Our vision is to build a UK-wide network of gyms, a street workout movement, that not only empowers young people to succeed in life, but also fosters stronger, safer and better-connected communities.

Backed most famously by Co-op, Steel Warriors have created many communal gyms which have helped communities massively. Gyms bring people together through sport and maintaining a positive lifestyle which, in communities that have been effected by poverty and crime such as knife crime, is extremely important to individuals to have a positive outlet to focus on.

What I find really strong with Steel Warriors is how they have taken knives out of hands and made them into something that helps the community instead of destroying it. I also think their image and branding is really strong which makes it more endorsable and more desirable for young people to buy into, which is important as, who wants to participate in a rubbish looking brand? Again it's about building an image and brand that young people want to be involved in.