The Hive in Shrewsbury is celebrating the news that it has secured a £99,600 grant over two years from The National Lottery Community Fund, Reaching Communities grant.

The funder distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK. This grant will provide a vital investment that will not only help to safeguard essential services for young people in the county but also strengthen the foundations for long-term, systemic change.

This new chapter marks a turning point for The Hive, an organisation rooted in creativity, inclusion, and community spirit. Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, The Hive can continue to operate and offer its life-changing programmes - helping young people across Shropshire to find resilience, joy, and a sense of belonging.

From offering music as a lifeline to those struggling with mental health, to re-engaging students excluded from school through visual arts, to creating safe, vibrant spaces where young carers and care experienced young people can simply be themselves - The Hive’s work has already touched countless lives. With this new funding, those opportunities will continue to reach those most in need in local communities.

“This funding means so much more than keeping our doors open,” said Katie Jennings - The Hive CEO. “It’s about laying the groundwork for a future where young people’s voices lead, where creativity connects us, and where no one is left behind. We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but the need for The Hive’s services is growing - and now, with the help of this Reaching Communities funding, we can meet it head-on.”

The grant follows a pivotal year for The Hive, during which its Save The Hive campaign rallied the community and bought the organisation crucial time to plan strategically for the future. Now, with renewed stability, The Hive is poised to deepen connections between young people from diverse backgrounds, sustain and grow inclusive creative opportunities across Shropshire, offer earlier interventions to support wellbeing and aspirations, and continue addressing the lingering impacts of the pandemic on young lives.

The Hive’s story is one of resilience, determination, and hope. This award from the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund ensures that its inclusive, safe spaces will keep inspiring, supporting, and empowering young people - today and for years to come.