About Us
The Youth Commons is based at Eagle House in Hastings Town Centre. Our new space has had youth voice at the heart of its design and development and opened in February 2026. We work with young people aged 11–18, responding to the wants and needs of those in and around Hastings through our youth sessions. We shape and develop our sessions based on feedback from young people, whose voices are central to the growth of our service.
We also have a Youth Council and Youth Leaders who play an important role within the Hastings Youth Commons. They support our evening sessions, amplify youth voice, and contribute to planning and decision-making. They also act as youth representatives in internal and external projects, meetings, and partnerships. Our Youth Council and Youth Leaders are aged 14–19.
On this page, you can find out more about what Hastings Youth Commons offers, details about upcoming events, and other opportunities such as work placements.
Opportunities for Young People
We offer evening sessions three times a week at Eagle House (27-29 Cambridge Road). During these sessions, there is free food, activities and time to hang out with other young people. Our goals for the evening youth sessions are to create a 3rd place for young people away from school and home, where they can be their authentic selves with the support of trained, experienced youth workers. You can see the full timetable below.
Alongside the weekly evening sessions we also organise free trips and excursions for 11-18 year olds during half-terms. We also host work experience and industry placements for school and college students. We have also run a series of youth led events in The Observer Building called OB SOUNDS which are all about giving young people ownership of a space and platforming young creatives in paid opportunities. We hope to continue this in the future.
Pictured: 'Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH)' workshop with live illustrator Esther Springett
Get Involved In Activities
All activities take place in Eagle House (27-29 Cambridge Rd, Hastings TN34 1DT)
Please follow our Instagram for live updates - @HastingsYouthCommons
Tuesday 4.30pm-7pm
The Youth Commons evening session (age 11-18): A chilled and calm session upstairs in the Common Room with free toasties, fruit, noodles, crisps and drinks, crafts, music and films, downstairs in The Snug offers music, air hockey, pool, table football and more.
Wednesday 4.30 pm-7 pm
The Youth Commons evening session and OBX Pick 'N' Mix (age 11-18): Join us for gaming, design, and creativity with OBX! We also offer Dungeons and Dragons, 1-2-1's with a trusted and mental health first aid trained youth worker, games, crafts and free toasties, fruit, noodles, crisps and drinks. Downstairs in The Snug offers music, air hockey, pool, table football and more.
Thursday 4pm-7pm
The Youth Commons evening session (age 11-18): A session focused on developing key skills with cooking and baking, the menu picked and created by young people. A chance to sit down and have a chat with a free meal! Thursdays are also are themed crafts session for events such as Mothers Day, Jack in the Green and much more! Downstairs in The Snug offers music, air hockey, pool, table football and more.
Friday
Coming soon!
Highlights of the Programme So Far
July 2024: Choosing paint colours!
Hastings Youth Commons start choosing paint colours for Eagle House. Refurbishment has started on the building and is due to be finished late Summer 2025, with much involvement in the design from the Youth Commons.
June 2024: Hastings Youth Commons Table Top Tournament
May 2024: Hastings Youth Commons Healthy Eating Session
Young people at Hastings Youth Commons had a healthy eating workshop where they learned how to make fajitas and overnight oats.
March 2024: Hastings Youth Commons trip to the Fire Station
Hastings Youth Commons took a group of young people to the fire station where they got to explore a fire truck, meet the fire team and the test out the water hose!
August 2023: First OB SOUNDS - DJ led music night for 14 - 17 year olds
OB SOUNDS started after outreach with young people showed there was a desire for more drum and bass events available for the 14-17 age group. In June, we hosted two college students on industry placements who sourced local DJ group, Shoulder 2 Shoulder and we held the first OB SOUNDS in August 2023.
The event sold out, and 210 young people had the chance to dance to music in a safe space. One young person said, ‘I had so much fun, met lots of new people that I instantly got along with and I am very excited for the next event. I can see a bit of a community forming from this!'
Photo taken by Ethne: https://ethnelily.myportfolio.com/
July 2023: Make Good Trouble Photography Workshop
Brighton-based Make Good Trouble are a social impact company driving positive change for young people and families. In July, they held a 2 day photography workshop for young people with artist Lindsey Smith, looking at how we can communicate our identity through photography. The young people had a great time exploring the Observer Building and even visiting the roof!