I write this with a smile on my face. Well, perhaps “smile” isn’t quite the right word – it’s more of a grin. After almost a year, our venue, FUSEBOX, situated on Kingston’s wonderful riverside, has officially reopened.

For those who don’t know us, Creative Youth is a charity that supports young people through the arts. Three years ago, we opened FUSEBOX, a vibrant creative space on Kingston’s riverside. Officially opened by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, it became not only our home but, more importantly, a home for the young people, artists and communities we work with every day.

Then, in June last year, everything changed.

When we arrived one morning, we were met with an unimaginable sight. A major flood had devastated the building, forcing us to close immediately.

To make matters even worse, this happened just days before the start of FUSE International, our flagship international youth arts festival.

For our small charity, the impact was enormous. We lost not only our workplace, but the venue that generates vital income and the space where we connect with, inspire and support thousands of young people. Add to that a year of navigating a complex insurance process, and it has been one of the most challenging periods in our history.

Yet, despite everything, one thing has stood out above all else: the extraordinary kindness of our community.

The support we’ve received from partner organisations, young people, artists, previous hirers, volunteers and local supporters has been overwhelming. It hasn’t simply been appreciated; it has been a lifeline.

It’s no secret that arts charities are facing incredibly difficult times. To experience something as devastating as this during an already challenging period was a serious threat to Creative Youth’s future. Quite simply, without the generosity and encouragement of so many people, we would not still be here.

But we are.

Just this month, we celebrated FUSEBOX’s reopening with another fantastic FUSE International, welcoming thousands of young people from across the world to Kingston. We launched the first ever Pride in Kingston with our friends at Unapologetic. We have also just opened our biggest exhibition yet, What Makes Us, which readers can visit until 28 August 2026. And as we look ahead to the autumn, all I’ll say is this: watch this space. We’ve got so much more to come.

FUSEBOX is a truly special venue. Before the flood, it was rapidly establishing itself as one of South West London’s most distinctive creative spaces for businesses, charities and community organisations. We’ve been delighted to host everything from exhibitions and performances to workshops and parties, conferences and meetings, including events for the South London Partnership.

However, reopening a venue isn’t as simple as unlocking the doors. It takes time for people to realise you’re back.

And this is where you can help.

If you’re looking for a venue for a conference, workshop, training session, away day, exhibition or community event, we’d love you to consider FUSEBOX. Read more about hiring the venue here: https://creativeyouthcharity.org/fusebox-venue-hire/. As a thank you to our local community for standing by us over the past year, we’re offering 40% off all venue bookings confirmed by 31 August 2026.*

All proceeds raised through FUSEBOX go directly back into the work we do changing the lives of young people aged 5 – 30.

You can also find out more about our upcoming events and everything happening at FUSEBOX by visiting our What’s On page: https://creativeyouthcharity.org/whats-on/.

We can’t wait to see you at FUSEBOX.

Find out more about FUSEBOX

* Offer applies to all event types at FUSEBOX. To qualify, bookings must be confirmed through a signed Hire Agreement by 31 August 2026. Events may take place between 8 July 2026 and 20 June 2027.