The idea
Due to circumstances out of our control, after 12 years in our current building we moving to a new location - in our new youth centre we are looking to create a vibrant and welcoming space for the young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
It will be a hub and a safe place for 11-25 year olds to come and access support; providing a youth club (including our LGBTQIA+ group, Outburst), counselling rooms, a creative space and training rooms.
We will need to make changes to the new building to ensure that we can continue to offer our services to the city and county's most vulnerable young people, we also need to purchase furniture etc for the space and decorate it as well. By providing this space we are keeping young people off the streets where they are vulnerable to crime and antisocial behaviour.
We will be involving young people with the project, so that we create a space that they feel ownership over and reflects the needs of the young people in the area.
What we'll deliver
- A safe haven for young people
- A Youth Club with activities
- Counselling Rooms which help soothe those in need
- Training Space for our Youth Work and Counselling Courses
- Voluntary opportunities for local people
Why it's a great idea
We will be offering a safe place for 11-25 year olds to access support, benefiting their mental health, reducing social isolation and also providing them with practical support with refreshments, food parcels and a clothes bank.
By having a welcoming space in the city centre, we are giving young people from various areas across the city and county a safe place to come and hang out in the evenings, keeping them off the streets where they are vulnerable to exploitation/crime and where they could also engage in anti-social behaviour which has negative effects for the community.
Our Youth Club also feeds into our counselling and specialist trauma support as young people build trust with our Youth Workers and feel able to disclose any issues, helping with early intervention.
We are recruiting more volunteers to work in counselling, administrative, marketing and youth work positions; providing people in Nottingham opportunities to gain skills and experience in a variety of sectors.
Steps to get it done
- Consult with young people about how they want the youth club to look
- Sign up volunteers from local businesses to help decorate
- Purchase items, such as games/sofas etc
- Open Youth Club with an event for all young people in Nottingham
- Decorate new Youth Centre
