PZN Youth: A Vision for the Future

Youth Club Development Update

PZN Youth is rapidly becoming one of Penzance’s most important community assets – a safe, energetic space for 11–16s created in December 2022 to fill the post‑COVID gap in youth provision. Weekly open‑access sessions, one‑to‑one support and real‑world opportunities now anchor the lives of hundreds of local young people.

The project launched with real momentum: around sixty young people attended the first event, and attendance has remained consistently strong. In 2025, the team delivered 191 sessions and welcomed 2,225 individual visits. A major milestone followed when a community‑backed campaign secured a permanent town‑centre building, giving PZN Youth a long‑term home. Funding successes have reinforced this growth, with support from the National Lottery, local councils, Cornwall Community Foundation, the Edmund Blyth Trust, the Emily Bolitho Foundation and other partners including Penzance Rotary.

Ethos: Inclusion, Safety, Opportunity, Responsiveness

Bek said, "We wanted to create a safe place where young people can come, be together, and access opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

At the heart of the project is a clear ethos. Inclusion means any young person of the right age is welcomed through the door, with everything free – food, trips, workshops and activities. Safety is built through a trauma‑informed approach, creating a space where wellbeing and belonging come first. Opportunity is central: young people try new things, explore interests and play through workshops and trips. And Responsiveness ensures the project adapts to young people’s evolving needs; the offer is shaped by them, for them.

This ethos is delivered through professional youth work rather than volunteer‑only staffing, ensuring safeguarding and consistent practice. Sessions remain open‑access, welcoming and non‑stigmatising, with food, activities and supportive boundaries. Progression is a key thread: Year 6 transition support helps pupils move confidently into secondary school, while independent opportunities such as public pool passes encourage ongoing development. A structured safeguarding and casework model supports young people who struggle in group settings, with one‑to‑one interventions where funding allows – from music mentorship to fashion projects – helping vulnerable young people re‑engage with learning and social life. Outdoor experiences, including surfing, swimming and coastal adventures, broaden horizons and build confidence.

Next Phase and Funding Priorities

The next phase is ambitious. PZN Youth has completed feasibility work with architects and received positive pre‑planning feedback. The immediate priority is raising around £13,000 to submit a full planning application for an expanded youth facility with an active outdoor courtyard. Alongside this, the team aims to build three months of operating reserves, transition from a Community Interest Company to a registered charity, and strengthen staffing with a new Project Lead already in post and a Finance & Operations Manager being recruited.

Funding needs range from short‑term planning costs and unrestricted reserves to medium‑term capital investment and future operational support beyond the current three‑year Lottery award. Multi‑year unrestricted grants, small local trust contributions, capital donors and in‑kind professional expertise are all welcomed.

How Rotary Can Help

A follow‑up conversation between Rotary representatives and PZN Youth will be held to explore multi‑year support and to discuss other ways local Rotarians can help.