#SaveTheYAC Campaign
Ealing Young Champions Save Southall Youth Centre from Closure
The Young Adults Centre (YAC) in Southall is one of only three youth clubs in the Borough of Ealing and, up until yesterday, had been earmarked for demolition to make way for housing by Ealing Council.
Thanks to the Ealing Young Champions, and their tireless campaigning, the youth club has been saved.
The Ealing Young Champions, supported by the Young Ealing Foundation, launched a campaign in Spring 2021 to #SaveTheYAC and petitioned Ealing Council to save the Young Adults Centre from demolition in the summer.
The petition gained over 1,500 signatures and, as a result, was debated by the Council at their cabinet meeting on Tuesday 19th October 2021.
Ealing Young Champion, Lily, 17 presented the petition to the Council who thanked her for presenting and for being so eloquent.
The Council have announced that the Young Adults Centre will not be demolished and cited young people as a reason for this.
Lily Connelly-Wards, 18, Ealing Young Champion says:
“After all of our hard work, I am overjoyed at the decision of the council to keep the YAC open. It is clear that the centre is needed in the community, and I’m glad the young people of Southall get to keep this pillar in the local area"
Elly Heaton, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Young Ealing Foundation says:
“We are absolutely delighted that Ealing Council have listened to the Ealing Young Champions and have made the decision to keep the Young Adults Centre open for future generations. We are looking forward to working with them going forward to ensure that the Young Adults Centre continues to thrive as a community hub, provide a safe space for young people, and is an asset the community can continue to utilise for the long-term future.”
Dr. Lynne Guyton, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of John Lyon’s Charity says:
“For the past 18 months we have been campaigning to save the YAC as a key youth club for the children and young people of Ealing. Having reached out to Ealing Council to help them understand what a critical resource and part of the social fabric the Club is, I am delighted that the Council has decided to keep the YAC open and fully supported.
More than ever before, in the wake of COVID and in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, youth clubs such as the YAC are a guiding light for many young people bringing together different communities, providing sports activities, clubs and a safe space for those at risk of violence and crime.
The Ealing Young Champions are a group of teenagers from a variety of backgrounds who have come together in order to tackle the issues that they face, and to give a voice to children and young people in Ealing. They are supported by the Young Ealing Foundation. You can find out more about how to become an Ealing Young Champion here.
