What helps a young person thrive? Through our Know Your Place research project, we asked young people directly, and one answer has come through again and again: young people want spaces where they feel safe, comfortable and able to be themselves. At both our youth clubs, Warehouse Wednesday and Stapenhill Drop-In, I believe we are beginning to see what that can look like.
At Warehouse Wednesday Skate Park, over the years we have observed a divide between those who skate and those who come to “youth club”. Recently though, young people who would not normally skate are picking up a board and giving it a go, and some of the regular skaters are stepping away from their usual groups, joining a game of Uno and connecting with young people they might not otherwise spend time with.
At our Stapenhill Drop-In, what was once a group mainly attended by young people from one school has become a much more mixed and welcoming community. New friendships are forming, and young people feel that they can come along and belong, regardless of which school they attend or who else is there.
These moments might appear small, but they matter. They have taken time – over 5 years. We haven’t changed what we do. We continue to be present, welcoming and supportive. What we are noticing is a shift in the young people themselves: when they feel safe, supported and trusted, barriers seem to come down. They appear more confident, more willing to try new things, and more open to relationships outside their usual friendship groups. This may be what it looks like when young people begin to thrive.
My Youth Work degree has encouraged me to think more deeply about the barriers young people face. Some are easy to see, such as cost or transport. Others are much less visible: the worry of walking into an unfamiliar building, not knowing who will be there, or wondering whether you will fit in.
These are the barriers youth clubs need to respond to. That’s why a youth club must be more than simply a building filled with activities. It should be a place where young people are known, valued and given the confidence and space to grow.
Young people have also told us they want more: more places to go, more things to do, more safe spaces and more trusted adults in their communities. That means we can’t always expect young people to come to us. Sometimes, we need to go to them. That’s why, over the summer, we’ll be taking Youth Club in the Park back into our local communities, helping even more young people discover that same sense of belonging and the opportunity to thrive.
Matt Rimmer
Lead Youth Worker
Some young people’s feedback this week:
“When I’m here I do more, when I’m at home I sit on my ipad and it’s boring.”
“It’s the only social interactions I really get all week.”
“I come because I have nothing to do at home and it’s a fun place to be. I like skateboarding – I trust it here ’cause I’m safe here.”
July 2026