Businesses unite to support new Swansea drop-in hub

Posted on December 6, 2024 in Creative business, Meanwhile space, Pop-ups

A pop-up drop-in hub has been created in the city centre with a full activity programme planned for young people and residents.

Part of the former Crane’s Music Store has been repurposed to create Popup Wales – a team effort between Swansea Council and Urban Foundry that’s funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

First used for the successful City Centre Chill events which saw activities organised during the school summer holidays for young people, the aim is to hold events for all.

The pop-up hub will be a temporary activity at the building, pending its longer-term regeneration as part of overall former St David’s Shopping Centre site plans being led by Swansea Council in partnership with Urban Splash.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, Hayley Gwilliam, said: “Our Community Engagement Team is using the hub to expand the Collaboration Station initiative and is in the process of building a full activity programme.

“The aim is to tackle social isolation and improve community engagement, focusing on early intervention and shared resources.

“They will be in the space every afternoon throughout the week. Mornings will be available for council teams to book, as well as for outside agencies such as Swansea University, who we’re collaborating with on robotics workshops and digital banking sessions for older people.

“Afternoons will focus on drop-in-games, chats, and offering support by signposting to different services. We are also about to launch a new Ospreys project, ‘Tackle After Dark’, on Tuesday evenings, aimed at young people.

“As well as fun activities, the pop-up hub will offer advice about employment, apprenticeships, and safeguarding with support from other agencies such as the Youth Justice and Early Intervention Service; the Contextual, Missing, Exploited, and Trafficked (CMET) Team; the Police, and the Family Assessment and Support Team (FAST).”

The project has had strong support from local businesses with Kier Construction contributing a large amount of furniture. Kier Construction are lead contractors for the Swansea Council ‘Y Storfa’ development that’s taking shape at the former BHS unit on Oxford Street.

Jason Taylor, Regional Director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “Our involvement in community initiatives like The Collaboration Station aligns with Kier’s broader mission of contributing to the areas where we operate, ensuring long-term benefits for local residents.

“We also organised for one of our Y Storfa sub-contractors, Swansea Decorating Services, to donate all the paint, which was very well received. We want to show that we are fully committed to Swansea and leave a lasting legacy.”

Swansea Museum has also donated furniture, including a large number of cushioned chairs.

The council has provided multigame, football, and shuffleboard tables, along with a large TV screen for workshops, films, and presentations. Heaters have also been added to make the space more comfortable.

Susie Johnston, Project Manager at Urban Foundry, said: “We’ve got a whole host of exciting events planned for Crane’s Pop-Up Place, and what the Community Engagement Team is doing here will absolutely add vibrancy to the programme.

“We’ve already hosted art exhibitions, including the Wales Air Ambulance ‘Castles in the Sky’ exhibition, and there’s a big Christmas Fair planned for early December as well as numerous retail pods available for small businesses to hire.”

“PopUp Wales has been instrumental in revitalising empty spaces in Swansea. In addition to placing businesses and organisations in them, these spaces have been transformed into vibrant community hubs. The economic and social impact has been very positive.”

The neighbouring former Iceland building is now the temporary new home to Lazer Zone bringing more people to that part of the city centre while long-term regeneration plans are developed.