Why this petition matters - 
Countrywide Youth and Community Centres that provide a priceless service to young people, marginalised groups, and all in the Community have been or are being closed down. 

Please sign this petition  to save the only remaining youth and community centre of its kind in Redbridge. It is called Wanstead Youth Centre (WYC), and is symbolic of other such Centres across the country. 

We believe there is also a crucial need for additional local sports facilities that prioritises young people after school and can be used by the community that includes babies, their parents, marginalised groups, and seniors during school hours.

WYC's unique sports facilities, a vital resource for the Community, has been unilaterally closed, despite over 5000 signatories opposing the closure. The facilities have been a cornerstone of our community used by over 1200 weekly, despite the managed decline of the finances and building. WYC provides a safe space that promotes mental, physical and psychological well being, social interaction and engagement, multiculturalism, community building (especially post COVID), gives young people somewhere to go, and reduces knife crime.

We appreciate the challenges the council faces, but emphasise the priceless importance of retaining communal spaces, especially those that contribute to the well-being of our diverse population. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has linked regular sports participation to increased life expectancy and improved mental health.

This petition highlights several key points that we urge Redbridge council to listen to and by signing you will help us:

1. Retain Indoor Sports Facilities: Vital retention of the indoor sports facilities, with a specific emphasis on preserving the large Sports Hall, ensuring continued access for the community.

2. Immediate Reopening of WYC: Strongly proposing the expeditious reopening of WYC for community use until a mutually agreed time frame and process for renovation and enhancement are established.

3. Reinstatement of Youth Work Provision: Urging the reinstatement of youth services at WYC, given the positive impact youth work has/had on thousands of residents' lives.

4. Establishment of a Community Forum: To ensure the Council fulfills it's legal and moral obligations to us, the residents, by setting  up a Community Forum as soon as possible.

5. Change of Name to Wanstead Youth and Community Centre (WYCC): Recommending a name change to Wanstead Youth and Community Centre (WYCC) to better reflect its inclusive, multicultural role within the community.

6. Creation of a Sports Education Hub: Utilising and/or expanding the existing WYC's sports facilities, we propose the creation of a Sports Education Hub - a Centre of Excellence - that will be used by young people, marginalised groups and the wider community. This would be the first in Redbridge and to appoint Sports Ambassadors in every Ward.  

Wanstead Youth Centre is more than just a building; it is a symbol of community unity that we advocate to be available in all local areas across the country.

Please sign to help us save our last standing multi-generational community space and sports facilities.

If you wish to donate to our campaign please do so ONLY by using the 'Donate now' button on the  'Act now' page of our website - http://www.SOWYC.com. Thank you.

You can also follow us on Facebook @Save_Wanstead_Youth_Centre & Twitter on S_W_Y_C.

Quote from Huw Edwards, Director of Public Affairs and Research, ukactive.
---"Sport has the ability to unite communities, to provide platforms for social cohesion, and to offer safe spaces for vulnerable young people to interact. Sport can provide the positive role models, structure and routine, when it might be lacking at home, and a sense of comfort in groups that is often sought but not found in such positive contexts".