The Halewood Youth in Community Centre, affectionately known as The Boyzee, has been rescued from imminent closure thanks to a £300,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will sustain operations for the next three years, providing a lifeline for the centre that offers after-school clubs, off-site schooling, wellbeing support, boxing, football, yoga, and community events.
Funding Crisis Averted
Earlier this year, the centre warned that without revenue funding for day-to-day activities, key decisions would be needed within months. Mark Nelson, who has worked at the centre for 33 years, said: “If funding hadn’t come in then we couldn’t have run off our reserves for many months. In four or five months we more than likely would have had to close.” The news brought “a great sense of relief,” he added. “It’s the sense of relief knowing that we’re still going to maintain ourselves, still have the services, and the staff are going to be employed, because they are local people. It’s that knowledge that we’re still here, for three years at least.”
Services and Community Impact
The Boyzee provides a wide range of services, including after-school clubs, off-site schooling, and wellbeing provision for pupils at risk of exclusion. It also features a dedicated boxing gym, sports hall for football and yoga, community picnics, bingo, Christmas events, trips abroad, and parades. The centre works closely with Halewood Academy on a project for pupils struggling in school, offering a six-week programme at the centre to help them reintegrate. Mark noted: “The school structure is not for everybody and sometimes young people do struggle with it, so this is an opportunity to have a bit of a reset.”
Long-Term Sustainability
Despite the funding boost, Mark emphasized the ongoing need for financial support: “We’re a charitable organisation and we do rely on funding. Without it, we don’t survive, and that’s always been the case.” The centre also receives support from Knowsley Council, but Mark acknowledged that the council is “a bit strapped for cash at the moment.” Over the years, the team has raised several million pounds for the centre’s upkeep. Mark said: “Everyone else is after the funding as well, but I like to think we offer a good quality service, and I think we’re viewed within our community as being integral to it because of the sense of ownership and belonging people have towards the centre.”
Future Plans
With the new funding, the centre will sustain existing services and explore new development areas. Mark said: “As an example, we’re working quite closely with Halewood Academy on a project focused on pupils who may be experiencing some issues within school.” The programme has been running successfully for nearly 12 months and may expand to include more pupils. The centre will continue seeking additional funding streams and income-generating opportunities like premises hire. Mark added: “We consistently work with the community to get feedback from users including children, young people and older family members to make sure we’re on the right track in terms of what we are delivering.”
Deprivation and Need
The neighbourhood served by the centre is in the top 10% of socially deprived areas, and in six of seven deprivation categories, it falls within the top 3%. Mark concluded: “That’s an indicator of the need for our organisation.”
