ABOUT US
We are Newhaven Young People’s Forum (NYPF) - an independently constituted group of young people aged 12-18 from Newhaven – a port town on the East Sussex coast. We help local young people have a say in local projects and services for young people. We speak to and represent our peers, help plan and run activities and events for young people, and fundraise for youth projects. NYPF members helped to design and secure funding for Newhaven Youth Centre, which opened in 2021 - 100% of young people attending Newhaven Youth Centre identify it as a safe place.
“Amazing, everyone is respectful”
WEEKLY YOUTH CLUBS AT NEWHAVEN YOUTH CENTRE
“I always look forward to Fridays”
Wednesday and Friday Youth Clubs at Newhaven Youth Centre provide a safe space for young people aged 11-18 years old with around 150 young people attending each year. At youth club, we take part in fun activities that support mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, interpersonal skills, creativity, confidence building, identity and inclusion, avoiding risky behaviours and learning about safety/consequences, developing life skills and setting goals.
Activities include cookery, arts and crafts, group indoor and outdoor games, chill and chat, local walks, issue-based workshops, informal life skills education, music and sports. Hot food is provided at youth clubs to make sure young people are getting enough to eat – young people are involved in choosing how to spend the youth club food budget and preparing food.
Chill and chat Group walk in the local countryside
Project with local artist
WHY ARE YOUTH CLUBS NEEDED?
“Youth Club is a place I get away from school stress”
Since the Covid pandemic and through the cost-of-living crisis, more local young people are feeling low, anxious and stressed. They can struggle with school, identity, sexuality, family, friends, and social media. Some don’t have parents or other adults they feel they can trust and turn to for support and advice. In our last Newhaven Youth Survey, young people wanted support with boredom, feeling stressed/low, anger, future prospects, and relationships with friends. 69% said they don’t feel safe in Newhaven during the evening (90% feel safe during the day).
Youth Clubs enable a longitudinal relationship to be built with young people - potentially many years of weekly support leading to more sustainable impacts.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES YOUTH CLUB MAKE?
Being able to visit Newhaven Youth Centre every week helps young people:
- Feel a sense of ownership and belonging in a space that is just for them.
- Make friends, deal with friendship issues, and feel less isolated and lonely.
- Relieve stress and boredom by taking part in fun and relaxing activities.
- Talk to trained youth workers about issues in their lives so they can feel better and get referred to specialist support if they need it.
- Get active and learn positive coping strategies to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Learn new skills such as cooking on a budget to support their independence.
- Learn about safety, consequences and the law so they can make positive choices and reduce antisocial and risky behaviour.
WHAT WILL YOUR FUNDING SUPPORT?
Youth Clubs are free with no eligibility criteria so that everyone feels welcome to come along.
Your donations will help pay for the qualified Youth Workers that run the youth clubs and activity resources like food and art materials.