Community and Youth Centre
Thame Community & Youth Centre Project
An exciting project to rejuvenate the Southern Road Recreation Area
The Vision
The Community and Youth Centre will be a vibrant space where young people and all in our community can meet, make new links and friendships, create, learn and thrive.
It will empower young voices, promote wellbeing, and open doors to new opportunities, bringing generations together to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
The building vision and designs have been (and will continue to be) developed through co-production and consultation with young people, community groups and residents in and around Thame over several years to get to this point.
This page is regularly updated, please keep checking back for the latest project updates!
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Can You Help?
For this project to proceed, we need to raise £4.5 million.
We are looking for people, organisations and businesses to help – if you can assist financially, or otherwise through ideas, connections, or time to support project fundraising, we would love to hear from you.
A partnership project led by Thame Youth Projects and Thame Town Council, working with a range of community organisations.
Project Link is the working project name.
The Plans
The Community & Youth Centre will provide:
- Flexible and rentable spaces, including a new 200 capacity community hall for events, lectures, conferences, health and wellbeing, fitness and arts activities; a multimedia room, kitchen, dedicated youth club, and small group and 1-to-1 consultation spaces.
- A new, larger entrance to the Scout Headquarters.
- Landscaped exterior spaces with a rejuvenated play area, public toilets with disabled access & baby changing facilities, seating, and an income generating kiosk.
- More car parking with EV chargers & bike racks.
- Educational opportunities for visitors to learn about the many benefits of the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve and the specific environmental needs of the area.
- A place for all ages to meet and/or play.
- Reduced anti-social behaviour, improved emotional and physical wellbeing, give people new skills for work and life, especially those facing the greatest challenges.
- A self-sustaining building through income from pre-identified potential ‘anchor tenants’, other regular and ad hoc hires, and from statutory and charitable grants.
Take a peek at the architect’s vision View the Planning Application details
A Community & Youth Driven Project
The building vision and designs have been (and will continue to be) developed through co-production and consultation with young people, community groups and residents in and around Thame over several years to get to this point.
Public Consultation
A public consultation regarding the Public Works Loan was held in December 2024. 82.6% of respondents from OX9 postcodes voted in favour of “the Town Council going ahead with the Community and Youth Centre project if it includes a council tax precept increase of up to £35 a year (Band D) for loan repayments”.
Consultations were undertaken between 2015 and 2025 and details of public consultation can be found within the Evidence Needs Assessment.
Can You Help?
The Thame Community and Youth Centre will have far reaching benefits for the people of Thame – all of the people of Thame. We are especially excited about the opportunities it will afford the future youth of our community.
For this project to proceed, we need to fundraise £1.4million. As the saying goes, ‘you don’t know, if you don’t ask’, so we are asking, can you help? If you can assist financially, or otherwise, we would love to hear from you.
Why Thame Needs This
- Thame has growing youth and elderly populations.
- Thame’s amenities are not keeping pace with growth, or towns of a similar size – Thame is also one of the only towns in Oxfordshire that does not have a dedicated community centre or tailored spaces for its youth.
- For over a decade, residents have been calling for a community centre in Thame.
- Our youth desperately need a facility where they feel safe, can come together, obtain advice and support from youth workers and volunteers, learn new skills, interact, and be active.
- Our senior residents tell us they want more community & intergenerational engagement and interaction.
- The Centre’s facilities will help improve mental health, increase physical activity, encourage human interaction, and promote outdoor activity and wellbeing.
Funding the Project
The estimated cost of the Thame Community & Youth Centre is £4.5 million.
Thame Town Council plans to fund the project through existing developer funds specifically allocated to the project, grants, sponsorships, donors, fundraising, and a government public works loan.
Our aim is to not only secure sufficient funds to build and fit-out the Centre, but also to prepare the way for ongoing revenue income for when the Centre opens.
Public Works Loan
Fundraising
Our fundraising target is £1.4million and we will be working with the community, local businesses and funders to raise this through grants and donations. We are looking for people, organisations and businesses to help – if that’s you, we would love to hear from you!
Email: info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk
Tel: 01844 212833
Post: Town Hall, High Street, Thame, OX9 3DP