Emerge - The Bradford Charity for Young People

Our vision is to inspire lasting positive change in the lives of young people.

We believe in young people

So we are committed to delivering inspiring, holistic youth work in community settings and local schools, aiming towards personal growth, better physical and mental wellbeing, positive engagement in education and to actively transform the communities young people live within. We also use our experience and knowledge to support the development of vibrant youthwork in urban settings around our city.

Find out more

Donate Today

Donate today so that we can continue supporting young people and inspiring them to transform their lives and communities.

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Our Areas of Work

Community Youth Work

Inspiring positive change in young people through youth work in various settings across the BD4 communities.

Support in Schools

Supporting young people within schools to remove barriers to their education through a focus on wellbeing.

Supporting Young Adults

Journeying with young people aged 16 and over through practical and emotional support.

Exploring Faith

Creating opportunities for young people to explore and grow faith within a safe and inclusive community.

Growing Youth Work

Using our experience to support churches and the wider voluntary sector to build and develop work with young people.

Lasting, positive change

As we continue inspiring young people and growing youth work in and through churches, schools and community settings, we will see lasting positive change in the lives of young people.

Socio-Emotional Learning

Over the last few months emerge has started to move our understanding and measurement of positive change in young people into a framework of socio-emotional skills growth. We believe that socio-emotional skills development is a central outcome of all youth work, and extensive research shows that if we are seeing this growth in young people, we are contributing to addressing inequalities, particularly for young people experiencing the greatest challenges in life. We are currently testing our approach to gathering information and data to best understand the difference our work makes.

The long term outcomes of young people improving their socio-emotional skills include:

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Personal Resilience and Wellbeing

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‘Giving back’ to their Community

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Better engagement in Education

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Individual Growth – Social, Emotional & Spiritual

Headlines from our work over the last year

Individual young people engaged with

Community sessions delivered

Young people supported, with 2439 one to one sessions

“Emerge have worked in partnership with BFA since we opened our doors in 2015. The work they do with our young people within school cannot be underestimated. Our students often ask when Emerge staff are in the building and frequently want to talk to them due to the positive relationships they have built. Our young people feel safe, respected and cared for by all Emerge staff they come across and they are a real credit to the BD4 community due to their work within schools but also their work in evenings and in school holidays to create the best outcomes for the young people they work with.”

Andy Russell, Associate Senior Leader, Safeguarding, Bradford Forster Academy

“We have been working with emerge in Bowling Park for over 10 years. The work delivered to the young people of our area is first class and has made a real difference to countless lives during that time. The care and concern shown to the young people by emerge workers and a willingness to support them whatever is amazing to witness on a regular basis. It really is a pleasure working so closely with emerge and making such a difference to so many lives in our local area.”

Dave Brickman

Friends of Bowling Park

“Working with our Emerge youth worker has had immediate impact on our young people’s self- esteem and well-being. Having someone listen to you and give you their undivided attention for half an hour means such a lot to a young person going through a difficult time. I can see the impact from the way the young person’s attitude to school becomes more positive and their feelings towards themselves change so that they are able to accept praise. I would highly recommend these sessions particularly for boys struggling with self-regulation.”

Sarah Tolson – Headteacher, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

“Emerge is an amazing youth work charity that do so much for the young people in the community. From schools work, to detached work, to leading a youth group, showing love to young people is at the heart of all that they do. They constantly go out of their way to make sure that young people are cared for, families are supported, and communities are positively impacted. “

Will Foster

Youth Worker at Gateway Elim Church

Our vision is to inspire lasting positive change in the lives of young people.

We believe in young people

Donate Today

Our Areas of Work

Community Youth Work

Support in Schools

Supporting Young Adults

Exploring Faith

Growing Youth Work