A north London charity which operated a youth centre in the city has merged into a nearby organisation following a “successful community consultation process”.
Samuel Lithgow Youth Centre (SLYC) in Camden was dissolved and its assets transferred to Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) after FYA was chosen to take over the management of the youth centre.
In recent months, FYA had been collaborating with Camden council, alongside SLYC’s management and staff, to secure the future of the “deeply valued community asset”, the former announced in a statement on its website.
FYA has delivered youth services and social action programmes across the Regents Park Estate for over 15 years, while the SLYC previously provided a space for local young people through an after-school club, a holiday club and a senior youth club.
The SLYC had run into financial difficulties at the start of this year according to the FYA’s statement, and was supported by Camden council to implement a transition plan to save the centre from falling into liquidation.
The charity’s most recent accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025 recorded a total annual income of £149,000 against a total annual expenditure of £203,000.
A series of community consultation meetings identified FYA as the preferred provider to take over the management of the centre.
The SLYC entity dissolved in July and transferred its assets to FYA who now own the 40-year lease of the building.
FYA had been seeking new home
On 20 July, the youth centre officially became the new headquarters of FYA.
The FYA said in the statement that the move represented an “extraordinary milestone” for the charity, fulfilling its goal to find a new home for its activities, as its previous Warren Street premises were considered not accessible or large enough for the charity's expanding work.
Andre Schott, FYA’s founder and chief executive, said of the merger: “We want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of current and past SLYC staff, who worked tirelessly all these years to keep the centre going and serve local families.
“We are delighted to welcome many of the previous SLYC staff team into the FYA family. We look forward to working together in developing the centre as a youth-led community space from where young people create lasting benefit for themselves, each other and the wider community.”
According to the SLYC accounts, it previously employed four members of staff, although it is not clear how many of them have since transferred over to FYA.
