17th June 2025 — The annual Leicestershire Cares Awards, held at the elegant Winstanley House, brought together Business partners, community leaders, and organisations from across the region to celebrate outstanding contributions to social impact and community development. The event recognised the incredible efforts of businesses working to build a fairer, safer, and more inclusive Leicestershire.
Among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Community Impact Award to the Haymarket Shopping Centre in recognition of its innovative use of empty retail units to support and uplift local communities.
In recent years, the Haymarket has transformed vacant spaces within the centre into thriving community hubs—accessible to all and free of charge. These hubs have become safe and dynamic environments where young people can engage in meaningful activities and various community groups can host events, workshops, and support services.
This pioneering approach has inspired a wave of similar initiatives across Leicester’s city centre, as more organisations recognise the value of repurposing unused retail spaces for public good. Whether providing a space for youth engagement, arts-based therapy, mental health support, or creative workshops, the Haymarket has set a powerful precedent.
“We felt that the Haymarket Shopping Centre was a natural choice for this award,” said Aaron a Youth and community development officer from Leicestershire Cares’ Community Development team. “Their leadership in reimagining how city centre spaces can serve the community has sparked real change. Their model demonstrates how commercial, and community interests can align to benefit everyone.”
The award that was received by Dean Cross (Centre manager) celebrates not only the Haymarket’s achievements but also signals a broader shift towards more inclusive, community-focused urban spaces in Leicester. As the city continues to evolve, initiatives like these point the way toward a more connected and compassionate future.