Supporting young people’s journey to independence – ages 11 to 19 years
Barnabas Safe & Sound works hard to build positive relationships with young people. Our Youth Work team are trained to keep young people safe. We understand the issues young people find important, and promise we will always listen, and value young people’s opinions.
What is Youth Work?
The main purpose of youth work is the personal and social development of young people and their social inclusion.
“Youth work helps young people learn about themselves, others and society through non-formal educational activities that combine enjoyment, challenge, learning and achievement. Youth work provides for young people’s wellbeing and development in all its various forms – intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual”
National Youth Agency
Youth work origins lie in various clubs and projects set up by voluntary organizations in the 19th century. State recognition dates from the outbreak of war in 1939. Around 60 per cent of young people (and there are approximately 8,000,000 of them in England) encounter youth work at some point between the ages of 11 and 25.
The environment for young people, and those who work with them, is exciting and demanding. There is a growing consensus that young people have the potential and the right to create the solutions to their individual and collective futures.”
Centre Based Youth Work
Following a successful fundraising campaign in 2022, the charity was delighted to open “The Garage”, our dedicated space for young people.
This is now the home for our sessions with young people such as our Friday night drop in. All the Youth Club staples are there, including a pool table, games machines and, if we do say so ourselves, a rather fine line of toasted sandwiches! Watch this space for future sessions we are offering in The Garage in 2025.
Detached Youth Work
Detached Youth Work aims to work with young people who do not usually engage in other activities that we may offer. It can take place in a variety of settings from a bus stop to a park and will occur when and where young people are found.
It is not our job to “move people on” or “get them off the streets” but instead form meaningful relationships that give the young people a chance to say how they are feeling and what they would like to do. If you see us out in our red coats, please say hello and help us support young people in Morpeth. We will carry our ID with us.
Creative Group
Our creative group meets on a weekly basis, undertaking arts and crafts projects which enable young people to be creative and have fun in a host of different directions.
What a great opportunity to let your imagination run away with you!
Summer Activity Programs
The summer holidays are a great opportunity for young people to go outdoors, have fun, and try new activities. At Barnabas we have a long tradition of providing a vibrant and comprehensive program of activities.
This includes activities such as:
- Bike Maintenance
- Creative Art and Poetry, such as puppet making and stop animation
- Outdoor Activity Days with activities such as archery, climbing, kayaking
- Creative Theatre Workshops
- “Grow your own Christmas Dinner” Gardening session
- Newcastle United Foundation activity sessions
So, no need to be bored during the summer. Watch this space for our annual summer program which will be shared on our “What’s on” page and on our social media.
Ambitious Youth
Ambitious Youth is a new project Barnabas has been developing over the last two years.
Our refurbished Garage space installed a barista machine and can operate as a cafe. From this we can offer Barista training and food hygiene to young people, so they have the skills needed to find part-time work. This is something young people have told us, as they were frustrated at not being able to get work in local cafes due to having no experience.
The project has now been established as a social enterprise, providing additional skills, such as managing money, stock, promotion, fundraising and barista training.
For further information about our Youth Work projects contact: Ashley Brown
