DIY SOS youth hub 'maliciously' vandalised

The manager of a youth hub, featured on DIY SOS when it was being built, said she was "heartbroken" after it suffered "malicious" vandalism by children as young as six.

CCTV footage showed children jumping on a donated ice hockey table, destroying a vegetable patch, and attempting to climb on the roof of the Cherry Tree Youth Hub in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Jo Ramsay, centre manager, said: "It was like I'd been vandalised. People have worked so hard for this place. They've put so much effort into it and it means such a lot to the community and the young people."

Humberside Police said it was aware of the incident and "enquiries remain ongoing to determine the full circumstances".

The Cherry Tree Youth Hub was built by volunteers from scratch in May 2025. The build was featured on the BBC TV programme in December.

Prior to its existence, young people would meet with youth workers in a gazebo in a park.

The Youth Hub was closed for the Easter holidays when the vanadlism of the hub's outside area took place.

"Accidents happen, but this was malicious," Ramsay said.

"When I saw the young people stand on the ice hockey table, and then you see it go down, then you see it being kicked, then you see items of it being thrown across the area and jumped on.

"That was donated by somebody, and the kids use it and love that machine. They love it so much and now to know that it's destroyed. It's heartbreaking."

Tony Henderson, youth hub manager, said the damage would cost up to £2,000 to repair.

He said: "It really saddens us this has happened because we want young people to feel like it's their building, not ours, and unfortunately this has happened over the Easter weekend."

One of the areas vandalised is a vegetable patch where food was grown for the local community and children who attend the youth hub.

Henderson said: "We cook the vegetables in the kitchen in the youth hub but also donate whatever we don't use to the social food pantry that feeds 150 families a week. But, it's all been trampled on and a lot of hard work's gone into it.

"The compost bin was tipped over and all the compost was scattered everywhere. It's heartbreaking really. They've broken all the netting. It's all just been wrecked. Such a shame."

Henderson said the childen involved had been identified and the charity hoped it would be able to help them.

"We don't want to criminalise young people," he said. "We want them to attend the youth club and learn what we're doing here.

"We're not here to judge. We're here to support, educate, and move forward. We want to make them a part of our inclusive community and they're more than welcome to attend and that's important. That's what we're here for."

Humberside Police has asked anyone with any information to contact them.

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