A new youth charity hub that aims to support local youth charities by providing collaborative meeting spaces is opening in Hitchin.

Launching this week, the freshly renovated Youth Charity Hub is the newest addition to Harrison Court's Hitchin Youth Trust and will operate on a 'hot office'-style system – enabling charities to support young people without the expense of rent.

The new hub is spearheaded by Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss who, following the success of his charity hub at Warner Brothers' studios in Leavesden, was keen to set up something similar elsewhere.

Lord-Lieutenant Robert Voss said: "As discovered with the first Charity Hub, small charities are able to share good practices with each other and closer liaison has led to many joint initiatives to the benefit of their users.

"There is no doubt that the children and young people of Hitchin and surrounding areas will benefit greatly from the new charity hub…I'm sure families will see the benefits with immediate effect."

Supporting local people under the age of 26, Hitchin Youth Trust hopes the hub will house up to 10 charities, with regular residents including Barnardos and Stand By Me.

Made up of six rooms that can fit up to 20 people, the new space includes features such as wall-mounted TVs, soundproofed room dividers, a shared printer and photocopier, office supplies and a kitchen.

"We are delighted to offer offices and a meeting space for local youth charities," said Hitchin Youth Trust Administrator Helen Owen.

advertisement

"The space is ideal for charities to network and help each other by sharing ideas, training and governance as well as keeping up to date with the offer and support for young people in the area."

For more information on Hitchin Youth Trust and the Youth Charity Hub, visit their website.