Clegwell & Hartleyburn Youth Centre Closes as It Appeals for Support

For several years the youth centre at Clegwell & Hartleyburn Community Hub, off Mountbatten Avenue, has given Hebburn's young people somewhere to go in the evenings, with sport, informal youth work and positive activities. That provision has now paused. The youth centre closed on Friday 30 October 2026 because of a funding shortfall, as reported by the Shields Gazette.

What has happened

The hub is a registered charity. The Gazette reports that it has been unable to cover the youth centre's day-to-day running costs, after a funding application to a national youth charity was turned down earlier in October. Earlier in the month the paper had reported that the centre was facing closure unless new money could be found.

The charity says the closure need not be permanent: the youth centre would reopen if support can be secured. On 15 October it wrote to the leader of South Tyneside Council, local ward councillors and the area's MP asking for help to keep its youth provision going, and it has since approached businesses with links to South Tyneside and a national children's charity.

According to the Gazette, the council said it cannot replace grant funding for individual organisations but can point groups towards other sources of funding.

Some background

The youth building opened in 2022 after a local fundraising effort, and the National Lottery Community Fund has backed the hub's work with young people, including an award of almost £300,000 announced in January 2024 for positive youth activities.

How you can help

• Businesses and funders who may be able to contribute to running costs can contact the hub directly on 0191 489 7575 or through the Clegwell & Hartleyburn website.
• Volunteers can register an interest through the volunteer form on the charity's website.
• Residents can share the appeal, and anyone who wants to raise the issue with their elected representatives can find them in our guide to who represents Hebburn.

Best for: The closure reported by the Gazette concerns the youth centre. For other services run from the hub, including room hire, check with Clegwell & Hartleyburn directly.

We will update this story if the youth centre secures funding or announces a reopening date.