admin, Author at Wolvercote Young People's Club Limited

Redevelopment News

Shape the future of Wolvercote Hub

Exciting plans are emerging for the future of the Wolvercote Hub! We’re delighted to announce that we are planning to redevelop, refurbish, and modestly extend the Hub over the next few years. This project will ensure the Hub remains a welcoming, flexible space for the community, young people, and families for many years to come. Find out more and share your views on the ideas for redevelopment.

We are exploring ways to improve the building and surrounding green space, creating a vibrant, welcoming and adaptable venue that can support an even wider range of activities and community uses in the years ahead.

These ideas are at an early stage, and we want local people to help shape them. Take a look at our initial thoughts and tell us what you’d like to see.

Please give us your views and ideas in this short on-line survey

Together, let’s create a Hub that reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.

Building a Lasting Community Legacy

Updating and extending the building and its connection with the outdoor space will give it a vibrant life for the local community for many decades to come, with youth work continuing to be central to the life of the Wolvercote Hub. The Wolvercote Hub building and site is owned by Oxfordshire County Council but run and maintained by us as a local charity, and we will lead fundraising for the redevelopments.

Ideas for improvements

Entrance extension: A new façade and extension facing the carpark to create a light, welcoming reception space.
A community café and updated kitchen, with sliding doors opening out to a deck area looking out to the lawn, with small play area.
Internal improvements to room layout, creating spaces that can be used safely by different groups at the same time.
The potential for a music studio / rehearsal room, combined with podcast recording facilities.
Possibility to include a sensory room or space, to support neurodivergent individuals (such as those with autism or ADHD).
Improvements to the outdoor multi-sport pitch, and potential to create a Green Gym area, Community Garden, and a ‘Men’s Shed / Community Workshop.

The Performance Project

Blog by Carol Peaker, Performance Project Director

Why Create the Performance Project?

As both a participant in and director of community theatre, I have never ceased to be amazed at the extraordinary role that drama and music can play in building an inclusive community and encouraging teamwork and confidence.

The stereotype of the theatre and musical world being full of ‘prima donnas’ could not be further from the truth. Drama encourages connection, cooperation and communication between us. Most of all, it is the sense of belonging that theatre can bring.

How it works:

This ten-week project at The Wolvercote Hub will focus on different aspects of Performance, allowing participants to be involved to whatever extent feels comfortable.
Drama games will be used both as fun icebreakers and to teach specific skills.

Each session will focus on a different performance skill, including skits, hip-hop dance, spoken-word, music, and storytelling through movement.

You may want to be in the final performance, but we would also love you to be part of things if you are interested in stage design or in coming up with creative ideas. Plus, you get a t-shirt!

Ages 14-19 £2.50 / workshop (or pay what you can)
Just turn up or email: performanceproject@wypc.org.uk

Really nice and qualified instructors:

Our visiting experts include professionals from Body Politic (hip hop dance), Inspire Sounds (music) and others who have masses of experience helping young people express themselves.

Schedule: (subject to alteration)

It has already started but that doesn’t matter. These are drop-in sessions; come to as many or as few as you like.

Week 1 – April 22 Acting without words
Week 2 – April 29 Story-telling through Movement (Body Politic)
Week 3 – May 6 Hip Hop Dance with bodypoliticuk
Week 4 – May 13 Spoken word and song-writing (Inspire Sounds)
Week 5 – May 20 Performing Music (Inspire Sounds)
Week 6 – May 27 Group music-making and acting
Week 7 – June 3 Group performance work
Week 8 – June 10 Voice/singing/improvising workshop (tbc)
Week 9 – June 17 Performance Rehearsal (optional)/stage design
Week 10 – June 24 Performance Rehearsal (optional) /stage design

JUNE 25 – PERFORMANCE (optional)

The Café
Before and after the workshops, participants can visit the Performance Project café, where free snacks and drinks will be provided. Teenagers can also play pool or talk with the youth workers during these times. The café will open at 3:45.

A Safe Space
All volunteers and paid facilitators have safeguarding training and enhanced DBS checks. The Performance Project is a safe and inclusive space for young people to feel accepted and valued. This will be modelled by our fun and super-kind youth workers and volunteers.

Volunteers & Supporters Welcome!

There are many ways to be part of the Wolvercote Hub and Young People’s Club community. Whether you have a special skill, a bit of spare time, or simply want to help, we’d love to hear from you!

Ways to get involved:

Volunteer your skills – arts, sports, coding, cooking, or anything you love
Gardening or site support – help keep our spaces welcoming and vibrant
Trustee or advisory roles – contribute to the Hub’s future direction
Donations – help us provide resources, materials, and new opportunities for young people
Share your ideas – tell us how you’d like to see the space used as we plan for the future

Calling all volunteers 

Join us and make a difference in your community!

We are so grateful for all the support we receive. With your help, we can continue to improve our facilities and create a safe, fun, and inspiring place for everyone.

Changes Afoot at The Wolvercote Young People’s Club

By Val Tate (Chair and Trustee)

We are delighted to announce that The Wolvercote Young People’s Club venue is softly launching to become The Wolvercote Hub.

The Wolvercote Young People’s Club will still be very much at the heart of The Wolvercote Hub, but the venue will further develop in to being a trusted, inclusive community space where people of all ages meet, access activities, socialise, and enhance their wellbeing.

Our aim is to:

Host early years support and family provisions, such as antenatal groups and baby & toddler groups.
Create space for health and physical and mental wellbeing activities for young people and adults such as Yoga, Pilates, or tai chi classes, walking or fitness clubs or support groups.
Promote active ageing & community connection to reduce isolation and increase wellbeing, such as Seniors coffee mornings, Women’s Institute, companionship groups, or games clubs (bridge, cards, bingo, board games clubs). So if you are looking for a venue to hire for community activities, please do get in touch. The possibilities are endless!

We also have wonderful, value-for-money spaces to rent for parties, workshops, and events, including a lounge, media suite, sports hall, outdoor multi-use hard court, and classroom. We have an off-road car park and an electric vehicle charging station – the latter being available to the public.

There are also lots of ways for you to get involved.

Perhaps you have a skill you would like to share, or have some time to help with our gardening?

Maybe you would like to hear more about volunteer or trustee opportunities?

We would be so grateful to receive any donation to support club resourcing or materials.
We would also love to hear your thoughts on ways you would like our space to be used as we continue to plan for the future.

We really hope you like our new branding, and new look and informative website.

In the not-too-distant future, we hope to begin some first-step renovations and are in the early stages of planning the redevelopment of the entire site to make our facilities even better. Exciting times! Thank you for all your support.