As Stroud Community Space (SCS) we’re super excited to say that our first big project: Redz Youth Hub, is open and becoming ever more active. Comprising 2 floors – ground floor for drop-ins, films screenings, the library, etc. and first floor for co-working – its been a big effort to get it set up but so many skills have been learnt along the way. This couldn’t have happened without the amazing work of our ‘in house’ youth groups who have led the renovation and programming of their new space – read about this process on the RYSE’s blog here!
This is exactly on mission for us as a ‘facilitating’ organisation who work in the background to support community groups to really get a foothold in town. As such, its important to understand Redz as a “Youth Led” space where young people (mostly aged 13-25) are setting their own agenda, running sessions, building groups and learning to take responsibility with managing a physical space.
So, what now for Redz?
Now that the refurbishment is done its all about filling up the timetable with exciting and interactive sessions for Stroud’s Youth to come and get involved in. Right now they are running: weekly drop-in sessions on Saturday, a reading group on Sundays, a film night on Tuesdays, monthly intergenerational ‘Dinner and Discussions, collective space management on Thursdays as well as open meetings for the Youth Assembly. There are plans afoot to start ‘community feasts’ and ‘jazz/music hangouts’ in the new future as well. All of which we’re working hard to gather community support for with our current Crowdfunding campaign!
Alongside these Youth-Led sessions and spaces, we’ve just launched the Redz Booking application form for intergenerational community groups/sessions that people want to hire Redz for – see that here! While giving the young people their space and autonomy is essential to make them feel at home and powerful, this isn’t to futher division amoung generations but instead to give them a table where we as ‘Olders’ can come and meet them on their own terms. If you’ve got a session you’d like to propose, or a regular community meeting that needs a venue, then please use the form and we’ll get back to you asap.
^Our great intergenerational opening evening!”
And finally, what are we hoping to achieve with redz?
True to our mission to support spaces that “foster creativity, connection and resilience” we believe Redz is fast becoming such a space, one where our young people can find real meaning and the community necessary to fight isolation and apathy. At SCS we think giving young people a stake in the centre of our community is essential to fighting the youth mental health crisis and from what they’re already telling us Redz is starting to help already:
“The drop-in sessions bring so many different people through the door and its been great running them to see how many people in town really do support us as young people. Often it can feel like we’re just a nuisance but now we have a place to put our creativity it real feels like people are responding to that and getting excited” – Nora, 19
“Stroud isn’t always the easiest place to grow up (especially as a young black person) and adding that Covid hit in the middle of my teens it can be a really isolating place. Getting involved at Redz and even helping run the Youth Assembly recently is allowing me to start building a community that really cares about each other and making Stroud a better more inclusive place” – Uma, 18
“Being a bit of an Older Youth (26) its been super energising to come in run sessions and build relationships with the younger youth, we don’t have enough ‘cross age’ friendships these days and there is so much to learn from each other. I’ve also had the chance to learn about safeguarding, I’m one of the officers now, and its such a useful skill” – Quinn, 26
^Redz in action!^
That’s it from us for now, please as always email us at: stroudcommunityspace@gmail.com with any questions and remember the booking form is here!
In community spirit,
The SCS Directors!