Youth services
Committed to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to live a happy and fulfilling life.
At the heart of our work is our offer for local young people. We’re committed to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to live a happy and fulfilling life, no matter what support they need to remove the barriers in their way. From activities and community days at the Hub, to formal support in homes and in schools, we’re dedicated to being there for our young people in whatever way they need us.
Howdon Youth Zone
Howdon Youth Zone offers a safe space for young people aged 11-17 to attend to take part in a range of diversionary activities, create friendships and work to develop a resilient community.
We now have over 170 young people signed up and a regular attendance of around 40-50 young people every Thursday and Friday evening!
Activities range from Dungeons and Dragons, sim-racing and video games, to sport and physical activity. All activities are based on requests from young people, and thanks to partners like Delloitte and Gregg’s, these sessions now offer a hot meal and snacks to all participants.
Resilient Futures
Resilient Futures is designed for young people aged 11-24, living in Howdon/Wallsend, who may be beginning to struggle with their mental wellbeing or those who do not have a range of coping strategies to make them feel resilient.
Delivered in partnership with NE Youth, Wallsend Boys Club, and Newcastle United Foundation, Resilient Futures consists of a bespoke timetable of activities specially designed to improve mental health and promote wellbeing and mindfulness.
All activities offered are subsidised, so involve no cost to the young person. Our staff are on hand throughout to support young people to overcome barriers to access.
Young people will improve their physical health and wellbeing, aspirations, mental wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence, resilience, coping strategies, access to community activities and support and their communication skills.
Email [email protected] to sign up, or find out more about Resilient Futures here.
Howdon Youth Board
This year saw the development, expansion and relaunching of our Youth Board.
The project was set up to give young people a forum to influence our work and have input on project design and delivery.
After initial successes, including Family Gateway voluntarily waiving the differential in minimum wage for different ages, the Youth Board was placed under the supervision of our Youth Team, and has since grown in number and effectiveness.
Seven young people are fully registered members of our Youth Board, drawing from many different areas of our work. They have had several successes in the last year, including taking part in the Change Makers research project with NE Youth, building a relationship with Northumbria Police to get more police presence during Howdon Youth Zone, and presenting in front of the Family Gateway CEO and Board, as well as the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit.