Features / Docklands Youth Centre
The centre that’s been making a difference to young lives in St Paul’s for generations
Full Circle is an apt name for a place where Charmaine Lawrence spent her childhood before returning years later as youth development manager.
Gazing around the familiar Docklands building on Brigstocke Road in St Paul’s, the entrepreneur says it was here that people believed in her and gave her the confidence she needed to succeed.
Now, Charmaine is working to ensure young people in the area are given opportunities and empowered to make their voices heard and follow their aspirations, while also providing much-needed support during the immediate crisis.
is needed now More than ever
“We need to make sure they have the same opportunities as any person from an affluent area,” she tells Bristol24/7.
“There is no reason why our young people should not be going through the doors of Google. They need brilliant experiences and we cannot always expect them to go out and look for it themselves.
“We also want to empower young people to develop their voice at a local level. There is no reason why our young people should not be part of the youth conversation in City Hall.”
Charmaine Lawrence wants to ensure young people in the area have multiple opportunities – photo by Ellie Pipe
Set back just off Brigstocke Road, Docklands has been in the heart of the community since 1927.
It is a building that means a lot to many; including Charmaine, whose grandparents lived next door to the community centre, and Jon Newey, the managing director of Full Circle at Docklands, whose grandparents lived just around the corner.
“While everything around it is changing, there is this solid fabric of community buildings,” says Jon.
Full Circle was originally named St Paul’s Family Camping Project and was set up in the wake of the uprising in 1980 to provide new opportunities for children in the area and organise trips away.
Charmaine went from attending the centre as a child to becoming a youth leader, before going on to carve out a successful career as a businesswoman, launching – among other things – The Mogul Minded Group and magazine, which provides a platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
When she returned to Bristol, she started volunteering for Full Circle @ Docklands, before taking up her current role in November 2020.
“Full Circle has got the perfect name because I came here as a child and there were brilliant people who believed in me and now my daughter comes here,” says Charmaine.
Currently, chairs and tables are stacked inside one of the large downstairs room ahead of a major £100,000 refurbishment, which is set to give the premises a whole new lease of life.
A visual of how Docklands could look following a major refurbishment – image from Askew Cavanna Architects
Docklands is managed by Aspiration, Creation, Elevation (ACE) and Full Circle following a community asset transfer in 2014 led by Darren Alexander from ACE and Delroy Hibbert. It provides space for community groups, sports clubs, businesses and more and the plan is to build up revenue streams from renting out the building to make the entire operation self-sustaining by 2026.
The immediate focus for Charmaine and Full Circle is to provide much-needed services for young people, from maths and English classes and tutoring to fitness sessions and mentoring.
“One of the key things we are focusing on is developing educational, fun, aspirational projects,” says Charmaine.
“Young people are facing challenges and we need to be there to support them. Some kids are getting one hour a day of proper education, that is not enough.”
Jon adds: “That sums up youth work in general, we are plugging the gaps on a shoestring budget.”
Full Circle @ Docklands has been at the heart of the community for many years – photo courtesy of Full Circle @ Docklands
Read more: Levelling the playing field in Bristol
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