OUR HISTORY
Centre 33 opened its doors in 1981, and since then has supported nearly 50,000 young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Take a look at our journey to see how we've grown and the impact we've made.
Centre 33 opened its doors to young people at 33 Clarendon Street on 1st May 1981. Save the Children funded our first worker and she quickly recruited a team of volunteers to offer counselling, advice and support to meet the needs of young people in Cambridge.
It was to be a warm and welcoming space for young people where they could come and be listened to without judgement. All the services were to be free and confidential. We still follow the founding ethos of Maggie Hunter and her team and still value the rights of young people to have their own space and to be treated as individuals worthy of respect and support.
To date we have closely worked with nearly 50,000 people, supporting them with their mental health, practical issues and caring responsibilities.
We now operate in five parts of the county including Cambridge, Ely, Wisbech, Huntingdon and Peterborough and continue to advocate for young people’s needs in their communities.
the centre 33 journey
We've highlighted just some of the key moments of our story so far - keep scrolling for videos about our history and a special 40th birthday memory book.
1981
Centre 33 was founded in 1981 with a mission to support young people in crisis or distress. It initially opened for 15 hours a week, and saw 190 young people in its first year.
By the end of 1984, 700 young people were coming through the door for support, and 890 in 1989.
1991
In 1991, we were able to raise enough to buy 33 Clarendon Street with the help of a loan from the city council and a gift from the county council.
Two years later, we extended the building, relocating all 55 staff to Napier Street for three months. We continued to grow throughout the 1990s and in 1998 we launched our first young carers group.
2012
2012 signalled the start of our schools counselling service, and in 2014 we were awarded the contract to support young carers county-wide.
2015
The 2010s saw us expand across the area - in 2015, we began offering services in Huntingdon and Fenland (our Wisbech hub is pictured below), and in 2017 we opened a drop-in in Peterborough.
2024
In 2024 we opened our new Huntingdon hub, and bought a new home at St James Street in Cambridge to replace our Clarendon Street home after 40 years. You can read more about that here.
To mark our 40th birthday, we created a special book of memories following our journey. You can read it below - and watch our birthday celebration video.
MORE INFORMATION YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL
Centre 33 is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Each year, we provide support and guidance to thousands of individuals facing various challenges, from mental health issues to caring responsibilities.
About us
Centre 33 is here to support young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with their mental health, practical needs, and caring responsibilities.
Our people
Get to know the dedicated team of staff, trustees, and volunteers at Centre 33, who are all working together to support young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Our impact
Understand the impact of Centre 33's support for young people - read our Annual Reports and take a look at our year in numbers.
Work for us
Join our brilliant team and help us make our vision that every young person should be heard and respected for who they are a reality.