Community Youth Work
We are working across the BD4 communities to grow new opportunities and hope with young people.
emerge develops supportive, consistent relationships though a variety of open access youth work – including outreach on the streets, sport and activity sessions, drop in youth clubs and holiday activities, and more focused sessions – including mentoring, social action groups and wellbeing support groups.
All activities inspire opportunities for growth and change within individuals and for the community as a whole.
Our Youth Work offer in Communities
Youth work is a journey which we walk with young people. We are guided by the four waypoints below which create a foundation for what we are trying to achieve (a Theory of Change). Like many journeys, youth work is rarely straightforward so our interactions with individuals and groups adapt and change to best support the current needs and priorities.
We work in the four main communities of BD4 (East Bowling, Sutton/Laisterdyke, Bierley, Holme Wood) and partner with local organisations rooted in their community; churches and faith groups, community centres and small groups of community residents passionate about improving the areas where they live. Our youth work offer in each of our 4 communities has been built to follow this pattern:
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS by creating regular opportunities to engage young people in easy to access activities on their own terms. This might include first contact work on the streets, in local parks or through drop-in sessions at a local venue. We use street-based sport, games, activities and conversation to engage young people and begin to build relationship.
DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS with young people through engagements in projects which build community, promote involvement, create memories and address needs. For example, groups that focus on art, sport, cooking, well-being, music and the many different activities we do in the school holidays.
FOCUS RELATIONSHIPS and increase the potential for change through a range of targeted groups, mentoring and other one to one work. Some young people are directly referred to us at this point through schools and other routes.
RELEASE RELATIONSHIPS through encouraging and supporting the growth of leadership, promoting contribution to wider community life, and seeing personal independence flourish. We have some amazing young people who get involved in social action in their community, whether that be volunteering at Park Run, community gardening and litter picks or community fun days.
Our community youth work offers new experiences and positive activities. It inspires and broadens horizons. Through our work, young people tell us that they become more confident, learn to manage themselves and their emotions better, develop stronger friendships and gain new skills and experiences. Many young people also tell us how vital our support was at a time of crisis.
To find out more about our community work, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram.
If working with us could help you transform the lives of young people, please contact us.