Sir Stephen Fry backs Building Stronger Futures appeal for new support hub

Actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry has endorsed Centre 33's campaign to create a lifeline new support hub for young people in need in Cambridge.

Centre 33 launched its Building Stronger Futures appeal in May to refurbish its new building in the city centre. The space, on the corner of James Street and Maids Causeway, will replace our hub on Clarendon Street in Cambridge, where we have been based since 1981. The new hub will double the number of young people who are able to receive support for their mental health, caring responsibilities and practical issues like housing every year.

“Early support can have a lasting, transformational impact. Last year, over 90% of young people Centre 33 supported progressed towards their goals, over 70% had improved mental health and 85% of young carers felt less isolated.”

The appeal has now been backed by Sir Stephen Fry, who has previously called for more early support hubs for young people. He said: “Early support can have a lasting, transformational impact. Last year, over 90% of young people Centre 33 supported progressed towards their goals, over 70% had improved mental health and 85% of young carers felt less isolated.”

Centre 33 - which needs to raise £500,000 for the appeal before November - runs five drop-in hubs around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, offering thousands of young people up to 25 free and no-referral support. We have created a new short film showing the impact of its support on local young people.

It includes Ari, who featured in our Winter Campaign 2024 and who came to the charity for support while homeless. She said: “I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if I was left alone in that situation. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt like I could finally breathe.”

We have raised over £2m for the project so far, over 80% of our target and a figure which includes newly announced grants of £100,000 from the Wolfson Foundation and £40,000 from the Bernard Sunley Foundation. We now need a final £500,000 by November to fully refurbish the building and open its doors.

Harriet Millward, Centre 33's Director of Development and Partnerships, urged the community to get behind the plans. “We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined the appeal so far,” she said. “This hub will transform young people’s lives for years to come, but we need your help. Donations big or small all make a huge difference, helping to fund things like soundproofing to create confidential support spaces and fire safety doors so we can open. But it isn't just a building - by coming together to make this happen, we can ensure more young people can thrive.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Centre 33 has an exciting opportunity to expand by moving to their new premises in central Cambridge, which will allow them to deliver timely and effective mental health support to young people in distress. We are delighted to be supporting them in their mission to reach even more young people.”

To make a donation or find out more, click here.

If you are a young person, our Clarendon Street hub is still open and will stay open until the new hub is ready. There will always be someone to talk to.