07/09/2026
PRESS RELEASE - Y Plus secures new town centre home to empower Whitehill & Bordon’s teenagers.
Local youth organisation Y Plus is thrilled to announce the official opening of its new dedicated youth hub inside The Forest Shopping Centre, Bordon.
The opening marks a major milestone for the organisation, securing a central, accessible location to support teenagers across Whitehill & Bordon and East Hampshire following a multi-year search for permanent premises.
Originally formed in 2022 after supporting local young people since 2017, Y Plus was created to address a critical shortage of dedicated teenager support services in the area. The team previously operated out of an old army building opposite the local secondary school on the Enterprise Park. While ideal at the time, the building was earmarked for redevelopment as part of the ongoing Whitehill and Bordon regeneration project, leaving Y Plus hunting for a new home to ensure local youth were not left behind.
Thanks to a vital introduction by Councillor Andy Tree and the generosity of shopping centre owners Chris Willans and John Daily Y Plus was offered a unit directly within The Forest Shopping Centre.
"Finding a suitable location for teenagers in Bordon has been a multi-year quest. We are immensely grateful to The Forest Shopping Centre for supporting us, and to Andy Tree for bringing us together. Having a positive, welcoming environment for young people is key to alleviating boredom and curbing anti-social behavior. By working closely with local police and community partners, we know this space will bring genuine, lasting change to our community."
— Jodie Gibbs-Farrow - Y Plus Youth Services co-founder
“I am pleased to have introduced Y+ to the owners of the Forest Shopping Centre and am currently helping work on council-related funding to enable the service to continue ongoing. Y+ have a proven track record in making such a positive difference for our young people, including taking over Woodlands Hall in Headley Down. Their latest work in the heart of Bordon is very much supported by me.”
- Councillor Andy Tree - Whitehill & Bordon Community Party
Action-Packed Summer Prep
The milestone comes hot on the heels of busy summer initiatives delivered by the small, dedicated team. Throughout the school holidays, Y Plus operated at maximum capacity to ensure local teenagers remained active, fed, and engaged:
Healthy Meals: Distributed over 1,000 fresh meals to young people.
Trips & Excursions: Organised funded day trips for 123 young people including Thorpe Park, local swimming venues, high ropes course, and the seaside.
Safe spaces for young people: 77 young people came to youth sessions at Woodlands Hall in Headley Down.
Creative & Active Workshops: Hosted music production sessions for 56 budding musicians in Horndean and Portsmouth.
High-Energy Sports: Delivered interactive Glow Sports and TV show Gladiator-style activity sessions to 93 teenagers across Portsmouth and Rowlands Castle.
Food experiments, science and Lego family sessions for 157 people at Cafe 1759 in Bordon.
Over the summer the Y Plus team delivered 454 hours of delivery, traveled 3,084 miles, cooked and delivered 1010 meals and worked with 519 young people.
Immediately following the demanding summer schedule, the team have carried out an intensive makeover of the new unit—working over just a few days to paint, fit carpets, and outfit the space into a modern, welcoming haven tailored to teenage interests.
Dedication and Future Plans
Because funding for permanent salaries in the charity sector remains extremely limited, Y Plus operates primarily through a small dedicated team who juggle several jobs to ensure sessions can be delivered.
To expand its current reach, Y Plus is, as always, actively applying for multiple funding grants. Once approved, these funds will enable the hub to open its doors across multiple evenings a week as well as daytime sessions, creating a fully accessible sanctuary for all young people in Bordon.
About Y Plus
Formed in 2022 from youth work foundations built since 2017, Y Plus is a grass-roots, not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting teenagers and young people in Whitehill & Bordon and across East Hampshire. Through positive activity sessions, holiday meal provisions, trips, and local outreach, Y Plus strives to empower young individuals, promote community safety, and provide positive alternatives to youth boredom.
Media Contact
Organisation: Y Plus Youth Services
Location: The Forest Shopping Centre, Bordon.
Email: [email protected]
