Always on
This project successfully funded on 11th July 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
The Hang Out Venue Southend - children & families
Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Aim: Relaxed hang out venue with a wide range of toys, activites and a super laid back vibe. Adults get to chill whilst the kids do their thing.
Doesn't seem right talking about money when our community had such a tragic accident at the weekend. 😓😇🕯
This is a quiet update to those that are wondering re our challenges. Just know all is well for our immediate future. We aren't going anywhere. Of course anything additional is appreciated and needed, But mostly we are thankful for so much. ✨️✨️✨️
All those who have donated, reached out in your own way and reinforced we are not crazy to believe in our mission. Thank you!! It's appreciated MORE than you will ever know. ✨️✨️✨️
Original post
Please help us raise £15,000 to keep this little gem going for the benefit of children and families now and in the future. All funds will be used use for core costs, advertising and marketing so we can reach more people. We need your help for this next period of growth.
Business is growing month on month, all our reviews are 5 stars and everyone loves us. It is just taking a little longer than we hoped to get the business to a point where it is self-sustaining. We don't have a large team and are doing everything ourselves.
Who we are
I'm Kasia, Mum to Raphy and married to Andy.
In December 2023 whilst on holiday in Lapland we used a traditional soft play area which also had a relaxed area for older children and their adults to hangout. It made me realise there are actually very few places families can hangout, with something for everyone. I promised my son there and then we would open something in Southend. So we pinkie promised, and as they say the rest is history.
When we got home I told my friend Rachael about The Hang Out Venue. She was totally onboard and got the concept immediately. Rachael was working for A Better Start Southend Project and that essential ten year project was coming to an end.
Our sons have been best friends since they were three. They went to the same nursery and attended the same local school.
We have another Mum working with us and her daughter also went to the same nursery and goes to school with the boys. Dad's are mainly holding the family forts and help out when needed.
I've worked in national charity and local authority, children and adult services for nearly twenty years, and helped set up a local trauma informed recovery program. Making a difference is what motivates us all. We knew business had to be community focused and a business which does good.
We were certain we did not want to be reliant on charitable grants for survival year after year, but to be a successful business which is self-sustaining.
In October 2024 we soft launched the most amazing children and family hangout venue in the heart of our city center.
We are so very proud to be a family run certified social enterprise (Social Enterprise UK membership number 17643) and members of The Association of Indoor Play. We can’t be everything to everyone, but what we are will inspire, be sustainable, genuine, and successful.
What is The Hang Out Venue?
We are not a charity, nor a children's service or youth club.
We are an amazing venue open all day, everyday, even late nights Friday and Saturday in the same amazing venue. The Hang Out Venue is what it says on the tin. It is where children gently stretch their boundaries and gain confidence with the reassurance of their adult close by.
Children can hangout with other children and friends, where families hangout together and where adults can relax, co-work or arrange playdates. If someone needs to sit and catch their breath that is okay too.
Entrance is £2.50 for under one's or £5.99 for 1 - 18's for an hour, with up to two adults free of charge per booking. VAT is included.
Most people stay for at least two hours, and the kids never want to leave.
We have a wide selection of age appropriate toys and activities, so there is truly something for everyone. We are available for hire by our community, for birthday parties and work closely with other local services, community groups, charities and businesses. Community and longevity is key to our mission.
Our super relaxed versatile welcoming venue has a home from home kinda vibe and keeps evolving. We now have a baby and toddler area, plus table tennis, table football, gaming, pool, air-hockey, Lego, chess, traditional toys for all ages, board games, jigsaws, marble runs, arts and crafts, knitting, jewellery, loom bands, bracelet making, book exchanges, an amazing cabin in the garden and soooo much more. It will keep evolving as we grow with our local community.
We have a super tuck shop and a little snack bar which has something for everyone. We don't do hot meals but have collaborated with two local family run restaurants https://www.grumpysdiner.co.uk and https://theburrito.co.uk
So, customers can order food for delivery whilst hanging out with us. How blooming cool is that!
What is a social enterprise?
Like a not-for-profit we have a permanent, locked-in commitment to reinvest at least 50% of our profits to further our social mission, which is to enhance the lives of local children and families.
We must also have
a clear social or environmental mission set out in our governing documents and be controlled in the interest of that mission.
be independent of state or government control, and earn more than half of our income through trading
be transparent in the way we operate and the impact they have
Like any other business, we seek to make a profit and succeed commercially, be self funded and not reliant on grants for survival, but to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and promote sustainable practices. The Hang Out Venue will franchise and launch in other towns, villages and cities.
We aspire to buy a local beach hut for families to use. We live in the driest sunniest location in the UK, where rows of beach huts sit unused.
Southend has a high level of deprivation and not everyone is able to afford to pay for leisure activities, so we are working hard to connect with with local groups, services and charities. We aspire to launch The Hang Out Venue Foundation, where we give little pots of money to the local community to enhance the lives of children and families.
By the end of year five , if not sooner, we will launch The Pull Up. We will buy a large house and turn it into two flats. This will be compassionate, supportive accommodation for two families who have fallen on challenging times. It will be available for two years. This will enable the whole family to have space and time to catch their breath and pull themselves up.
Why are we raising funds now?
We started with Start Up Business loan from The British Bank. We also had a small start up grant of £2,000 from Southend council in the very early days.
We are increasing month on month and need some help we can't do this alone.
We are working extremely hard to raise our profile, awareness, network, connect and launch a business in a financially and economically challenging time.
Children and families across our community deserve a wonderful space to Hangout and belong.
- One which is open all day everyday.
- One which will NOT be terrified at the end of each year wondering if we will be eligible for funding, because we as a social enterprise we aspire to be self-sustaining and self funding.
- If you are a business owner we also have corporate social sponsorship packages.
Slow and steady wins the race, and building a community is much stronger than just sales.
We are so very very close. Seeing the smiles and everyone hanging out makes our hearts so very happy. We know this is just the start.
Please feel free to pop in and take a look around, or even better bring the kids to hangout if you are local. We know you will all adore hanging out too.
With every best wish and sincere thanks for all the support so far,
Kasia, Rachael and all children and families, present and future.
Reviews
Below are a selection of reviews. Including a recent article in the local paper, which references a quote from Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend City Council.
“I was pleased to see the fantastic facilities at the Hangout. Kasia has built something that is sorely needed in our community. I was delighted the Hangout took part in our City Day celebrations and I hope it helped to spread the word about the great work they’re doing.