Coastal Town Youth Center Secured for Future

Quick Smiles:

• Ramsgate’s only youth center is saved from closure.
• A successful community campaign secured government funding.
• The center continues to offer music, support, and safe spaces for youth.

Hope has returned to Ramsgate, one of England’s most underserved coastal towns, as the Pie Factory Music youth center has been saved from closing. Thanks to a spirited campaign and over $500,000 from the Pride in Place government initiative, the center now owns its site and can keep serving young people.

Pie Factory Music has been a vital hub for youth aged 8 to 25 for 13 years, offering everything from counseling and job advice to creative projects and a welcoming place to belong. Their community rallied together to show the critical impact Pie has on the town’s well-being.

“The board is making a clear statement: we are committed to providing safe, positive spaces for the next generations to thrive,” said Brian Horton, interim chair of the Ramsgate Neighborhood Board.

“Knowing our future in the building is secure fills us with hope and relief,” expressed Pie’s chief executive, Zoë Carassik. “We are deeply grateful to the Pride in Place program and everyone who has helped us.”

Pie Factory isn’t just about music, even though that’s always present—it’s about giving all youth, including refugee families, a chance to learn, play, and connect. The center is a lively, enduring source of happiness for Ramsgate’s young people and their families.

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