New youth-led jobs and skills space launches in Downham

Elevate 100 is a first-of-its kind project in Downham Leisure Centre, that’s designed by young people, for young people.

Young people (from 16 to 30 years) can now access game-changing employment, skills and wellbeing support at Elevate 100, a new project based in the heart of Downham that the Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres launched today.??

Only 3% of Lewisham’s jobs are based in Downham and young people have reported difficulty navigating fragmented services to support both their personal and professional growth.??

Responding to this, Elevate 100 offers a mix of personal, professional and start-up business services and opportunities and is a partnership effort between the Council, Circle Collective, Phoenix Housing and our award-winning employment service Lewisham Works. This project is made possible by funding from The Youth Futures Foundation, as part of their national ‘Connected Futures’ programme. This programme aims to identify barriers facing marginalised young people and collaborate with them to develop effective strategies for system change.?

This project is guided by our new Inclusive Economy Lewisham strategy which sets out our mission to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed as well as making sure residents across the borough can achieve their potential and access economic opportunities. It also aims to put young people at the heart of service design.?

Young people leading the way?

Central to the decision-making is the Youth Action Board who all have strong connections to Downham and who are across what young people locally want and need.?

The newly created space??

Our Youth Action Board worked with the architects to make sure the space was a comfortable and welcoming place for young people. They opted for soft furnishings, warm natural colours and stressed the importance of the space being adaptable so it can be reactive to the changing needs of local young people.??

The Board chose to use Youth Build, a local organisation who train disadvantaged young people in construction, to complete the building work on the space.??

Thanks to intensive research of local young people, we understand that there is a passion for entrepreneurial and creative work. To reflect this, the new space’s facilities include a co-working space and a private meeting room, and soon there will be a content creation area, complete with access to a green screen.??

Collaboration is key?

We want to change the system so that young people in Downham can easily get the right support, at the right time.? By collaborating closely with local organisations and signposting young people to their services, we are making sure they are at the centre of this space and feel equipped to kickstart their next journey.?

Grand opening on Monday 10 February??

Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres launched the brand-new hub on Monday 10 February.

Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres said:?“I am proud to be able to launch the Elevate 100 service for young people in the heart of Downham. Young people in our borough have unlimited talent and it’s our responsibility to help them achieve their potential. Elevate 100 is more than a space – it’s a commitment to the young people of Downham, designed by them and for them.?I can’t wait to see how this service develops, breaking down the barriers faced by local young people looking to create career and entrepreneurial pathways. We’re inviting other services and employers to collaborate with us on that journey.?In December 2024, we adopted ‘Inclusive Economy Lewisham’ – our economic development strategy. It sets out our vision for an ambitious, resilient but above all authentic local economy. Our action plan for young people includes a commitment to ‘put young people at the heart of service design’. In Elevate 100, we see the manifestation of that commitment.?

Brandon Treacy, Youth Action Board member, said:??“For me, Elevate 100 is the reward for a lot of hard work and is the first step in helping people realise their dreams and aspirations both in education and employment.”?

Allarna Owusu, Youth Action Board member, said:?“Elevate 100 is the hope, voice and opportunity for change.”

Hector Yu?Youth Action Board member, said: “We hope Elevate 100 will be a space where young people from Downham and the surrounding area will find their futures, and how to reach them.”?

Follow the Elevate 100 journey and keep up to date with their programme on Instagram and Tik Tok channels.?