What the Youth Service does

The Youth Service provides safe spaces for young people 11 – 19 years to learn, grow and explore issues and activities that are relevant to them. We work with all young people to support, encourage and engage them in services and activities that will help them develop, grow, learn new skills and engage in their local communities.

Good youth work practice is based on the principles of equality, participation, education and empowerment.

We engage young people in a range of informal learning experiences which are based on these principles and reflect their interests.

Our programmes enable young people to develop their personal and social skills, through a variety of methods, including:

• Discussion and debate
• Outdoor activities and team challenges
• Multi-media projects
• Drama
• Music, rap and poetry
• Film-making and podcasting
• Dance
• Interactive and co-operative games
• Fundraising
• Educational visits
• Residentials
• Mentoring
• Leadership and volunteering experiences
• Sport and physical activity
• National and international youth exchanges
• Community cohesion initiatives
• Practical skills sessions
• Performances and events management
• One to one support from Personal Advisors and Key Workers

We offer provision and services at all times including weekends, evenings and school holiday periods.
Youth work in Bradford operates from community buildings, schools, mobile units, pods and health centres. Youth workers also meet young people through detached and outreach work, on the streets, in parks and other places where they choose to gather.

We work with LDD young people up to the age of 25.

Partnerships

Youth workers work alongside other professionals to enhance services for young people.

We work with schools to provide alternative education programmes. We also work alongside various organisations, including the Youth Offending Team, social care, voluntary and private sector organisations, colleges and primary care trust staff, to develop integrated and accessible services for young people.

One to One work with young people

In addition to our universal service, we also work with individual young people who need additional support providing target and specialist work. These include young people who are not in education, employment or training, who are at risk of offending, young people who are vulnerable and need additional support to manage their emotional wellbeing. We can also support individual young people to access the wide range of services provided by the youth service, or sign post to appropriate services, district wide and locally.

The additional support from our youth workers enables young people to address their needs and re-engage with mainstream services in their community.

For further information or to make a referral for support please contact our main office on 01274 431485.