We are excited to announce that our new community space, the Chichester Shed, will be opening in the New Year! It is being built on Keepers Green, Graylingwell Drive as an informal, dynamic and versatile space where people can connect, learn and experience new activities. With an after-school focus on young people, the space will be a haven for all ages and backgrounds to use throughout the school day and holidays, including intergenerational activities where boundaries can be broken down as well as adult education sessions and group workshops delivered.

We are currently on track to open in January, with many exciting activities already booked in. Our weekly youth clubs will be moved to the Shed along with our other youth programs. Furthermore, we are thrilled to be welcoming in a host of local youth providers such as Think Out Chichester and the Young People’s Shop. Think Out Chichester runs community activities that promote and develop communication and independent living skills, and encourage ‘green’ health and wellbeing, as well as providing 1:1 mentoring to support young people’s futures. The Young People’s Shop is a Chichester based charity that offers free and confidential support to young people struggling with their mental health.

This project was funded by the Youth Investment Fund, who create, expand and improve youth facilities to drive positive outcomes for young people all across the UK. The YIF is funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). 

​​The Shed places a strong emphasis on engaging young individuals, and the enthusiastic involvement of our community’s youth in the construction process reflects the positive impact of our project even before its official unveiling. Their ideas have significantly influenced the build, and we eagerly anticipate revealing to them the tangible results of their contributions. This space, complementing the Chapel and Pavilion, is designed to host a variety of activities for the community. It will serve as a venue for both individual and group projects, fostering community connections and facilitating the sharing of knowledge and skills. While our primary focus is on young people, the Shed aims to be an inclusive and sociable environment, welcoming individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Upon its inauguration in January, we aspire for the Shed to evolve into a permanent fixture in Chichester, contributing to the ongoing development of our local area and providing support to our community.

If you are a youth or community provider in the Chichester area feel free to contact sarah@chichestercdt.org.uk if you are interested in using The Shed to join our exciting schedule of events, or visit https://chichestercdt.org.uk/ to find more information on our youth activities.

“We are so thrilled to be getting this project off the ground- as the project nears completion it will provide a much needed resource for the local area and we are so excited to be creating this new space for our community!” – Clare de Bathe, CEO of Chichester Community Development Trust.

The images below provide an idea of the original design for The Shed, as well as some showing the progress that has been made so far. It looks very promising for our opening in January!