We're transforming an old bank on Harlesden High Street into an education centre for young refugees.

Nearly home

Make your mark, name this building.

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"The building project is good for refugees," explains Diwa.

The refurbishment is underway.

Can you help us get this project over the line?

We're so grateful for those who have contributed to the refurbishment so far, including the London Borough of Brent, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Historic England, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Bernard Sunley Foundation, The Clothworkers Foundation, Allchurches Trust, Laing Family Trusts, Jigsaw Consult and many, many generous individuals.

We still need to raise £50k to complete the project. Please help us finish laying the foundations for many years of positive work to come.

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Can you help us get this project over the line?

"The building project is good for refugees," explains Diwa.

Welcome! Come for a vitual tour...

Why do we love Harlesden? ft. Louis Theroux

This development will transform our work and enable more young refugees to access our services.

We are incredibly passionate about creating a space for young refugees to feel safe and to progress with their education. There is no better place for it than Harlesden, an area which embodies the diversity and vibrancy which makes REUK what it is.

As REUK expands nationally, we'll remain embeded locally in the part of London we call home.

The new centre will be a safe and welcoming space for young refugees with confidential meeting rooms, open spaces to run activities and training, and social spaces for young refugees to meet others in similar situations. Scroll down for a virtual tour.

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Home

60-62 Harlesden High Street is changing. What was once a derelict, disused bank will now be a community action hub and refugee education centre, somewhere young people from all over the world can share ideas, meet others and change the world.

The resilience and creativity of the young people we’ve met over the last ten years has motivated us to foster a physical environment which is warm and welcoming. This building is the final piece of that puzzle - but we need your help to get it over the line.

We need to furnish the whole building, install a security system, complete the loft conversation, finish the 50 stairs across the building and activate the mechanical ventilation system so the building is as ecologically friendly as possible. So many stakeholders - contractors, designers, builders, advisors, fundraisers, donors, staff, young people - have come together to make this building a reality. We are almost there.

How's it going so far?

REUK: You haven't! So what's been going at the building the past couple of weeks?

Jess: The thing with refurbishing an old building instead of building a new one is that you're constantly discovering things that you did not know before. So although we did as much stripping out work to start with so we could see what we needed to do, we have still made some discoveries which require new sections of design, and thus more time and money. It's nitty-gritty - for example we recently unexpectadly realised that we need new guttering - but I'm enjoying it and we are getting there.

REUK: If I was a genie and you could have one wish for this building, what would it be?

Jess: That's an easy one. We are building this incredible space which I know is going to genuinely change people's lives, but at present we don't have all the money we need to finalise the build and furnish the building. I'd ask the genie to encourage our generous donors to support our Christmas campaign.

REUK caught up with building project manager Jess to get an update about the project!

REUK: It's December 2021. If this project was a marathon, how far along would we be?

Jess: Great question! I'd say that we're a good way through the mid-section of the race, we're a bit out of breath but we're pushing through the wall. We spent a lot of time in training and we've got all the right kit. We can also see the finish line, but there's still a lot which needs to happen practically and financially to get us there. I hope I haven't taken the analogy too far!

REUK: Jess, what's your one hope for the building?

Jess: My main hope for the building is that it's really beautiful in a way which makes the young refugees supported by REUK, and our local community in Brent, feel really proud and understand that lots of individuals (both individuals and trusts and foundations) believe that they are worth investing in. My hope is that young people feel really honoured and dignified by the place, because it has been done so well and with care. I want them to feel like they are at home in the space we have built, and that they really enjoy using the building and that they can see how it has been designed for them.

REUK: Thank you so much for everything you have done so far for this place, Jess. We can't wait to see you in the building soon!

We’re hoping to move in in Autumn 2023 - we hope you’ll come and visit!

In March 2020, just before the first lockdown, REUK purchased a building in Harlesden, the vibrant and diverse part of London we call home.

We saw beauty and potential in the derelict old heritage bank at the heart of our High Street, and its transformation is nearly complete.

As we came to the end of a long and challenging refurbishment project, we invited REUK’s young people, staff, volunteers and other supporters to suggest names for the new building. Following a consultation and voting process, ‘The Lighthouse’ was chosen. A member of our Youth Advisory Board explained: “I like The Lighthouse. It reminds me of hope and positivity”.

The Lighthouse will

Be a safe, consistent and welcoming centre for young refugees, including for drop-in sessions, group activities and a range of educational services;
Underpin many years of positive social impact by providing a permanent home for REUK;
Offer a much-needed co-working and community space to change-makers in our local area.

The image of light streaming through the windows has also been a meaningful image to many at REUK throughout the complex process of buying and refurbishing the building, and this name honours that. To finally have our own physical space designed for young people and which we can call home is a huge achievement for REUK.

We have been able to get this far because of your generous support. Thank you for making this project happen. We are keeping our campaign open as our contractors are still finding new (and costly!) challenges with the period building. This project is by far and away the largest project we have embarked on as an organisation and we really appreciate your patience and generosity as we take the (many!) steps to create this wonderful space.

In November 2021, REUK opened nominations for a name for our new building on Harlesden High Street. We presented the suggestions to young people, staff and trustees, and settled on: The Lighthouse.

Why The Lighthouse? Well, the building will be a house full of light! Physically it's really light because of the tall windows, but it'll also be a place where young people can find hope, home, rest and direction when they feel lost or caught up in a storm, just like a lighthouse.

This amazing building, just like a lighthouse, will be a place of visibility, safety and strength.

The other reason we chose The Lighthouse was because it was by far and away the most popular choice when we put it to a vote for young people. Our head office will be based here but really, The Lighthouse has been built and designed for young people.

From house to home

Help us transform the Lighthouse into a beautiful, comfortable and welcoming place for young refugees. From £20 lamps to £300 homework tables, we are inviting our followers and friends to help us purchase the high quality and durable furniture and supplies we need to fit the space and serve all building-users well.

You can find our gift list for the Lighthouse here!

Get involved

Join us in the Lighthouse

The Lighthouse has two floors of co-working space and we are looking to flexibly rent desks to charities and social enterprises who would be excited to work out of a collaborative space. We also have three community floors which include a youth space and a community lounge area.

If you are a charity or local group looking for space to run community events in Harlesden we would love to hear from you. Please check back here shortly to read more about The Lighthouse and our pricing structures.

Find out more

Watch the videos below to find out more about this project and take a tour of the building during the refurbishment phase.