The Basement is a Voluntary Organisation located in Sefton Park Youth Centre, a Bristol City Council Leisure Services resource. The centre is in an 1850’s mansion house set in its own grounds in the Ashley Down area of Bristol.

The idea for the Basement arose from ongoing consultations between young people using the centre and youth work staff. This process led to the conversion of the derelict basement area to a useable space. However, it was then realised that if the project was to reach anywhere near its full potential, additional funding needed to be secured. This would thus enable the project to serve a much wider community through in-house and outreach workshops and projects.

Through consultation with interested groups and individuals a Support Group and Voluntary Steering Committee was established which is now the Management Committee. Substantial funds to convert and equip the basement space were raised and revenue funding secured. Matching revenue was secured from the Local Authority and the appointment of a full-time Workshop Organiser was made in 1990.

Also in 1990, in recognition of the partnership nature of the project, the local authority provided a full-time post of Youth Development Worker, who is responsible for implementing the jointly agreed policy and development. The project is now fully constituted and is seeking charitable status.