Gascoigne Community CentreLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council

In 2008 the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham received an allocation of Youth Capital Fund Plus monies to improve facilities for young people in an area of high crime. As part of our work in developing the Council’s Integrated Youth Support Services and Facilities Strategy, we identified the Gascoigne Community Centre as a building that could both meet the Council’s service ambitions and criteria attached to the funding.

The Council subsequently commissioned Mobilise to manage the project. We developed the concept for the refurbished centre including the design principles, oversaw consultation and drove the project. We led the team of architects and consultants to ensure that solutions were accurately developed and maintained ongoing communication with Government in relation to project finance.

The Gascoigne Community Centre is important in that it was the first to be driven by the new strategic framework. Key innovations such as the use of interior designers to assist with the development, branding, and dual governance arrangements ensured that the whole endeavour was driven by young people.