About the project

What does this community space/venue do?
Leeds, UK grassroots venue now based inside @canalside.leeds 👊🏼 All genres, but dedicated to promoting hardcore, metal and punk

What is VIY doing?
VIY will deliver a hands-on refurbishment project at Boom in Leeds, transforming the existing green room into a more functional, welcoming and multi-use space.
Working alongside experienced tradespeople, young people will take part in designing and building key features of the room. This will include installing a new seating area, constructing a central table with integrated power points, and creating a bespoke wall-mounted storage frame for guitars, coats and bags. A dedicated microwave station will also be introduced to improve basic kitchen facilities.
Throughout the project, young people will gain practical skills in carpentry, joinery and painting & decorating, while working towards accredited qualifications and developing confidence, teamwork and employability skills.

What will be the impact of our project?

The project will create a more practical and comfortable green room space for artists and staff at Boom, improving both functionality and overall experience. The addition of organised storage, seating and accessible power will make the space more efficient and better suited to its day-to-day use.
For the young people involved, the impact will be significant. They will gain real, hands-on construction experience, work towards recognised qualifications, and develop key life skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. This helps to increase their confidence and supports their progression into further training, education or employment.
More widely, the project strengthens community connections by bringing together a live music venue and local young people, demonstrating how creative spaces can also play a role in social value and skills development.

Project contact: shaid@teamviy.com