On Monday 10th April 2017, The Whitehaven Foyer welcomed His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, to officially open the newly refurbished building, formerly the home of the YMCA in Whitehaven. First built as a home around 1713, the property has served the market place area of central Whitehaven for over 300 years. Owned and operated by Young Men’s Christian Association for over 100 years, but recently fallen into disrepair, the property has now been completely refurbished into a Foyer serving the local community.
The Whitehaven Foyer today provides accommodation for young people who need some help to move into employment or training, together with offices, meeting rooms and training facilities for young people, employers and other local organisations and charities. The Foyer now boasts a new build block of flats and the conversion of one of Whitehaven’s oldest and most iconic buildings.
HRH The Prince of Wales toured the Foyer, meeting a wide range of partners, finding out about the heritage of the project, the construction and development of the building, viewing our new website and photography by Lakes College students. He also spoke to Trustees of the organisation and staff from its two founding members, Howgill Family Centre and Impact Housing Association, about their work within the local community and young people in particular. He also met three of our residents and toured one of their flats.
It was such a fantastic day and a great honour and pleasure to ask His Royal Highness to unveil the opening plaque.
