Ramsgate Youth Centre is here to stay!
Posted: 5th February 2026
We did it! Pie Factory Music is now the proud owner of Ramsgate Youth Centre.
With the sale complete, we have secured the freehold of the site, and our beloved home for the past 13 years, ensuring its future as a youth centre for generations to come.
We are hugely grateful to the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board and Thanet District Council for the capital grant of £535k from the national Pride in Place programme for making this purchase possible. Their commitment safeguards this vital community asset and everything it means to young people locally and beyond.
Brian Horton, Interim Chair of the Board says “The Board is making a clear statement: we are committed to providing safe, positive spaces for the next generations to thrive. The vision for Ramsgate is clear – ‘Not striving but thriving’ – and you cannot thrive if your young people feel left behind.”
As we’ve said from the start of our #SaveOurYouthCentre campaign – young people deserve better, and we wouldn’t stand for the loss of the last dedicated youth centre in our district.
THANK YOU!
Saving Ramsgate Youth Centre has been a truly collective effort. “We did it” means everyone who has backed our 16-month long campaign – our community, supporters, followers, partners, local politicians from all parties, journalists and importantly, our incredible young people, team, and Board of Trustees.
A huge thank you also goes out to everyone who donated to our #SaveOurYouthCentre crowdfunder – you raised £25k for vital repairs and renovations to the building. This milestone is just the beginning. Our campaign continues to secure ongoing funding for our universal youth services and music and creative arts programmes.
What our young people say:
“I can escape here. Without this security I wouldn’t have a place to just be myself. It’s helped me with my mental health, my confidence. Saving Pie means a lot, they’ve helped me so, so much. Thank you” Rachel
“I love Pie so much. There’s nothing else like this. Before I was doing nothing, but my friend introduced me. It got me out. It makes me happy that they [Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board and the community] see pride in young people, that they believe in us.” Crystal
What our CEO Zoe says:
“Knowing our future in the building is secure fills us with hope and relief. We are deeply grateful to the Pride in Place programme and everyone who has helped us. A huge thank you also goes out to everyone who donated to our #SaveOurYouthCentre crowdfunder – you raised £25k for vital repairs and renovations to the building. This milestone is just the beginning. Our campaign continues to secure ongoing funding for our universal youth services and music and creative arts programmes.
Now, we call on the Government to fulfil its National Youth Strategy promise to invest an initial £500m to rebuild youth services after 15 years of decline.
“Youth Matters” must be more than a strategy slogan – young people deserve real investment, not just words.
We should never have had to campaign to Save Ramsgate Youth Centre, the last dedicated youth centre in the area, in the first place. Our determination to advocate for open access youth services is stronger than ever – this must not happen again. Youth provision should not depend on charities like us alone. That’s why we urge local MPs and the Communities Minister to go further in strengthening statutory protections for youth services and review councils’ statutory duty to provide youth services. We want to work alongside our local authority partners to ensure that inspiring, high-quality, and accessible youth services are available for every young person in our area.
For now, let’s savour the joy and celebrate that our youth centre is here to stay.”
What Thanet District Council says:
Councillor Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet District Council, said: “This purchase is great news for Ramsgate and young people in the district. By stepping in to provide the funding for Pie Factory Music to secure the building, we have ensured that a vital community asset remains in the hands of the people who depend on it.
The Pride in Place Programme is about making real changes in Ramsgate and improving the lives of the people that live there. It goes beyond aspirations; it’s about delivering visible, concrete results. Securing the Ramsgate Youth Centre building for Pie Factory Music directly delivers on the ten-year vision which aims to ensure Ramsgate is a place where young people can thrive. The vision is built on the belief that with the right support and investment there could be immense opportunity for young people in Ramsgate.”
Brian Horton, Interim Chair of the Ramsgate Neighbourhood Board, said: “The Board is making a clear statement: we are committed to providing safe, positive spaces for the next generations to thrive. The vision for Ramsgate is clear – ‘Not striving but thriving’ – and you cannot thrive if your young people feel left behind.”
Help us spread the joy
You can follow Pie’s progress by:
Joining their free youth sessions if you’re a young person (8 – 18 years)
Sign up for their newsletter for regular news and updates
Follow and share our social media @piefactorymusic
Become a donor to support our ongoing work at www.piefactorymusic.com/donate
Headline news
We’re on the front page of Ramsgate Recorder. Read the article to hear what our young people feel about the news, what Pie means to them and the love they’ve felt from their local community. Copies are available from Pie, and local cafes, restaurants and visitor attractions across the town.
We’ve also made the national news again, thanks to The Guardian.