Kent’s last youth centre faces closure despite saving council £500k

A vital community lifeline serving one of England’s most deprived coastal regions is set to disappear, despite demonstrating significant value to both young people and local government finances. Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate, Kent, will close in February when the council sells the building housing the area’s final remaining youth centre.

The closure represents more than just the loss of a community space—it’s an environmental justice issue affecting vulnerable coastal communities already struggling with economic deprivation. These areas, often disproportionately impacted by climate change through flooding and coastal erosion, face additional challenges when essential community infrastructure disappears.

Pie Factory Music serves as a comprehensive support hub for young people aged 8 to 25, offering mental health counseling, employment guidance, life skills training, and refugee assistance alongside creative and music programs. An independent assessment revealed the centre saves Thanet District Council over £500,000 annually by reducing demand for costly mental health services, youth justice interventions, and social care support.

Despite this financial benefit and a year-long community campaign to preserve the facility, local officials rejected appeals to maintain the centre. The decision highlights a troubling pattern in coastal communities where short-term property gains often override long-term community resilience—a critical factor as these areas face mounting environmental pressures. The closure leaves hundreds of young people without essential services in a region already struggling with limited resources and growing climate vulnerabilities.