The Island

The Island is a well-established charity that supports some of the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and isolated young people in York, providing them with ‘Islands of space and time’. The charity aims to build confidence, self-esteem and unlock the potential of the young people that visit through positive mentoring relationships and unique programmes. The vision for this project and building is to greatly expand and enhance the offer the Island can make to York’s young people. The charity’s site at Huntington will enable The Island, for the first time, to have its own dedicated, purpose-built and highly sustainable facility.

The massing and positioning of the building within the site has been a key consideration from the outset of the project and the proposals sensitively locate and integrate the internal spaces within an extensively landscaped site. At the heart of the building there will be a central recreation area for the young people, from which there can be accessed a public Café area, Music & Performing Arts Space, a Health & Beauty Salon, Sensory room and Sports and Fitness facilities.

A series of workshops were held throughout the design process with both the staff and young people to help establish the brief and shape the design and layout of the building and site. The intention is to continue this collaborative process and for the young people to stay involved right through to the construction of the building itself.

Following a public consultation in February and the submission of a planning application in early May, the project received approval at planning committee in May 2024. This will now enable the project to progress into the next stage of development and allow the charity to continue and expand its invaluable work for the young people of the City of York.

For further information about The Island, please visit their website:

www.theislandyork.org