Ocean Youth Connexions (OYC) started its journey in September 2000 by a group of local volunteers of the Ocean Estates to address the local issues that were ravaged by poverty, high drugs misuse, organised crimes, vandalism, and graffiti. The area had boarded up shops, High levels of Anti Social behaviour and very low educational attainments. This vicious circle of risky behaviour has enveloped the whole area to make it Britain’s most deprived area (source BBC 2001).

Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair sourced £56m funding for the regeneration of the area over a 10 year period by bringing about a community-led organisation “The New Deals for Communities”. This saw the rise in new organisations springing up to deliver the much-needed work to bring people out of poverty and crime and re-engaged towards positive activities to enrich their lives and improve their prospects of life-improving opportunities.