The Home of Teens Unite
A new dedicated facility transforming youth cancer support.
CGI image of proposed plans
Brick by brick, we're rebuilding more young lives.
'The Home of Teens Unite' will be a dedicated space to host more of our tailored activities, residential stays, and specialist programmes for more young people across the UK.
We're building the first retreat in England for young people living with, and beyond, cancer.
What was once a vision - is now a necessity.
Over the last 12 months, we've experienced a 48% increase in the number of young people registering for our support.
Right now, for every young person we reach, nine more are still waiting.
That’s why 'The Home of Teens Unite' must become a reality. It will enable us to increase our service provision by 50%.
But we need to raise £4.35million to make it happen.
Improving the support available
Teens Unite is building a dedicated retreat for teenagers and young adults living with, and beyond cancer. It will be the first facility of its kind in England.
We are in the process of transforming our site in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire into a fully inclusive and accessible facility that provides young people, from across the UK, with the mental, emotional, and social support needed, not just during treatment and recovery, but throughout their long-term aftercare.
Currently referred to as 'The Home of Teens Unite', it will unite young people with experience of cancer through an increased offering of the short residential stays, specialist programmes, and tailored activities we currently deliver.
Together, teenagers and young adults will learn new skills, benefit from life-shaping experiences, and challenge themselves in a safe and supportive space where they feel confident in taking the next steps to rebuilding their lives surrounded by others who understand the struggles they're facing.
We’re committed to preventing cancer from claiming this key developmental stage of their lives and impacting their future. 'The Home of Teens Unite' will ensure more young people have opportunities to thrive, and live life to the full.
Why it's needed
Why it's needed
A facility of this kind doesn’t currently exist in England, but is desperately needed by young people overcoming cancer.
Without access to the vital support they need, the impact of cancer on a young person's mental, emotional and physical health, will continue to follow them into adulthood.
The retreat forms an essential part of our strategy to support 30,000 teenagers and young adults over the next 10 years; providing them with a space where they can connect with others who understand, find strength in shared experiences, and begin to rebuild their lives after cancer.
1
Improve accessibility and inclusivity
Accessibility and inclusivity are major barriers for young people accessing our support.
Many of our one-day activities take place in locations that are difficult to travel to, and without a dedicated facility, we rely on external venues that often lack proper disabled access, hygiene standards, and other essential requirements. The Home of Teens Unite will be purpose-built to be fully accessible, safe, and comfortable. On-site short-term accommodation will make our activities more inclusive, allowing young people from across the UK to take part without travel barriers and ensuring they can benefit from our support wherever they live.
2
Meet increasing
demand
In the last 12 months we have provided 1,600 opportunities to attend our activities and stays, all of which were oversubscribed.
Whilst 87% of young people are now surviving their cancer for five years or more - these young people deserve more than survival, they need the chance to thrive. With external venue hire costs continuing to rise, and the resource required to manage off-site logistics, these challenges are placing growing strain on our ability to expand, and meet increasing demand. By hosting the majority of our service output on site, 'The Home of Teens Unite' will increase our support output by almost 50%.
3
Service the current
care gap
For young people diagnosed with cancer, 80% report the mental health impact of a diagnosis is as difficult as the physical side.
Yet 44% have no access to NHS Services for the mental health impacts of diagnosis. We recognise the support needed extends beyond medical care. With Teens Unite, 91% feel an improvement on their mental health, and 90% have a more positive outlook on life. An additional 2,500 cases of cancer will be diagnosed in teenagers and young adults this year alone. We’re determined to empower more of these young people to take the next steps towards rebuilding their lives.
Who we're working with to make it happen
We're delighted to be working alongside partners and supporters of Teens Unite who share our commitment to bring the vision of the retreat to life by generously providing their skills and services.
Are you an organisation that would like to join them?
Martin Robeson Planning Practice - our planning consultants for the project.
Saunders - our architects for the project
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VolkerFitzpatrick - leading the project management of the site
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The Tesco Property team - providing their support as project advisors
Kinovo Plc - providing ongoing maintenance of the site
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ICAP - funders supporting the outside kitchen and vegetable garden
'The Home of Teens Unite' will be set within 1.6 acres of secluded countryside in rural Hertfordshire, offering a peaceful and tranquil retreat.
The site is an idyllic setting for teenagers and young adults to escape the stresses and strains of living with cancer, whilst remaining within easy access of London's leading cancer hospitals, and main transport links.
Our vision is for the retreat to comprise of four key buildings:
-
Teens Unite's Head Office
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A multi-purpose Activity Centre
-
Residential Building (with short-term accommodation)
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Sports Facility
All of which will be surrounded by beauttifully landscaped gardens to enjoy.
(All photos shown are CGI images of the proposed plans, not the current site.)
Introducing the site
How will it be used?
The Home of Teens Unite will be a place of opportunity, togetherness and belonging, and a space designed entirely around the needs of teenagers and young adults living with, and beyond cancer.
It will become the permanent base for our charity, where we will host the majority of our activities. These will range from creative workshops such as art and design, to practical sessions like cookery and careers guidance, through to confidence-building activities including outdoor sports and podcasting. Each is designed to help young people rebuild self-esteem, develop new skills and rediscover their potential.
Young people from across the UK will also benefit from our residential breaks, with up to 20 staying on site for a maximum of three nights at a time. During their stay, they will take part in a full itinerary of tailored activities – encouraging personal growth, creating lasting memories and, most importantly, forming friendships with others who truly understand the challenges they face.
Transforming the site
Given the scale of the project, we are taking a phased approach, aligned with our fundraising targets.
We need to reach our £4.5million target to open the doors, of which £1.5million has been secured.
You can find an outline of the four phases of the project below, but for further details, please email info@teensunite.org.
Phase 1
Renovating the granary barn into Teens Unite's new on-site Head Office to eliminate the cost of external office space.
This phase is now complete.
Phase 2
Converting the existing barn into a multi-functional
Activity Centre - a single storey space, with three separate activity rooms.
Phase 3
The Residential Building - comprising of nine en-suite twin bedrooms, professional kitchen, dining space, and communal lounges.
The Residential Building - comprising of nine en-suite twin bedrooms, professional kitchen, dining space, and communal lounges.
Converting the existing outbuilding into a sports facility with a classroom, and storage for equipment, leading onto 1-acre of open space for outdoor sports and fitness.
Phase 4
Support the project
We can only open the doors to The Home of Teens Unite, with your support.
For every £10 you donate each month, you'll be adding another brick to the project.
This is your chance to build a lasting legacy - one that will transform the lives of teenagers and young adults for years to come.
We can't do it without you, please donate.
Could your organisation be part of this life-changing project?
Join the partners who are supporting the build through fundraising and providing professional skills, services and materials.
Please donate.
Every £10 donated each month, purchases another brick towards the project.
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