Scope
Reference
CS6085 - Universal Provision of Youth Activities
Description
Tower Hamlets Council aims to create universal 'safe spaces' in every ward throughout the borough, where young people can stay safe, participate in positive activities and educational opportunities, as well as access additional support from youth workers.
The Council intends to achieve this primarily by delivering the services in-house, although there is a need to commission 6 wards where no Council premises are available to run the service, to ensure there is an accessible universal provision available in all borough wards.
Improving services for young people is a key priority in The Tower Hamlets Young Tower Hamlets Strategy 2025-2027. There has been significant investment in the Young Tower Hamlets, to transform the level of support available to children and young people so that they are given the best start in life and have easy access to opportunities to fulfil their potential. The Council's ambition to have youth service provision at ward level is a step towards achieving this vison, as centre-based youth work is recognised to significantly contribute to curricular goals such as health and wellbeing.
The commissioned Universal Ward Based Youth Activity provision will seek to provide youth centre provision in the specialist wards currently lacking in-house delivery.
It will support young people aged 11-19 (up to age 25 with SEN) with access to free, accessible, high quality and well publicised positive activities which embed the Service's commitment to promoting healthy living and provides safe, yet challenging spaces for personal and social development.
There is potential to procure these universal youth services in 6 wards (service lots) across Tower Hamlets Borough.
Successful Provider/s must deliver these services from a designated building (in each individual ward/service lot), whether it's their own or leased and this will be assessed during the tender.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,500,000 excluding VAT
- £3,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029
- Possible extension to 30 September 2031
- 5 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Engagement
Engagement deadline
11 February 2026
Engagement process description
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to provide advance notice to the marketplace for the upcoming tender opportunity and the intention of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to hold a preliminary market engagement session to identify potential suppliers to ensure the submission of strong bids.
Market Engagement Session
To provide potential suppliers with more information about the upcoming opportunity, we are hosting an online Market Engagement session that will take place on Microsoft Teams on Friday 13th February 2026 (10:00pm - 11:00pm). The session is advertised openly using this notice.
Suppliers wishing to attend the Preliminary market engagement session should be capable of meeting the procurement description/requirements outlined within this notification.
If you would like to attend, please register your interest free of charge at: www.londontenders.org (using reference DN773031) with confirmation of the name, position, email address and contact details of each attendee/s submitted via the message centre section of the portal.
The deadline for registration is 11th February 2026,13:00 hours.
NOTE: Attendance at the market engagement is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contracting authority
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQBL-2673-MVYG
New Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road London
London
E1 1BJ
United Kingdom
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government