Red Balloon Aylesbury Opening Event
On Saturday, 27th September 2025, we welcomed supporters and staff to a special opening event at RBET Aylesbury. With an afternoon of beautiful sunshine (what luck!), we opened the gates and guests joined us for tours of our newest Centre. There were some moving speeches, an opening ceremony, then light entertainment and of course some nibbles and drinks.
Head of RBET Aylesbury, Jane Cole, and Founder and President of RBET, Carrie Herbert, welcomed guests to explore the Centre and celebrate together all that has been made possible through the kind donations, time, gifts, and expertise of our incredible supporters and donors.
For many attendees, this was their first time seeing the Centre, and for others who had visited during building works, their first time seeing it in all its completed glory. It was an excellent chance for everyone to explore the Centre and see the homely, comfortable and welcoming space that has been created for students. From the cosy library and teaching rooms to the incredible kitchen and social space that spills out into the beautiful garden, it truly is a space to be admired.
After everyone had had a chance to explore the Centre (and perhaps play with some of the LEGO wall in the therapy room), we gathered downstairs for a series of speeches. Jane began and welcomed everyone to the space, giving heartfelt thanks to all those who had made it possible, and celebrating some of the joys students had already experienced in the first few weeks of attendance. Learning Mentor Annie then explained about the students’ time capsule, created in celebration of the opening, and shared some thoughts from the students involved. Carrie then spoke on the journey of Red Balloon as a charity, the opening of the Centre, and the hard work of Jane in bringing RBET Aylesbury from an idea to a fully-fledged haven for young people. Speeches closed with some thoughts from David Stopps, owner of the house in the 70s/80s and local Aylesbury music legend. He shared his tales of the house and the importance of music throughout the house’s history*. He presented two framed signed photos of Howard Jones recording his albums in the house, which are destined to be hung in the Centre’s new music studio.
We officially opened the Centre with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ribbon was cut by David, and all guests sealed the occasion with a toast. Drinks and light refreshments were followed by some beautiful singing from Guildhall Post-Grad Jacob Cole, which took us into the early evening.
Another kind gift on the day was from Paul Hayman, the direct previous owner of the house, who presented the Centre with a Banksy print with the apt quote “There is always hope”. This is now proudly hanging in the community room.
We are incredibly proud and grateful for all the hard work that has gone into opening RBET Aylesbury, and we were delighted to be able to share in this special day with some of those who made it possible.
*David delightfully told us that on the closure of a well-known local music venue Friars Aylesbury many years ago he had rescued the floorboards and used them in the house – these boards are still in place in what is now the Centre’s music studio, our young people walking the same boards as icons such as David Bowie, Genesis and Queen every time they use the space.
