Street Based Youth Work

Young people and street corners. A match made in heaven.

Some young people like to hang around on the streets. It’s a place that plays a significant role in helping them find out who they are and who they might want to be. It’s been like this for as long as there have been streets. Like everyone else in this country young people have the right to freedom of association. We think it’s great!

Bracknell Forest Youth Service have a Street Based youth work team to complement other provision across the borough. Our street based workers meet young people in a variety of settings; chatting with them, offering activities, and working with them to make a difference to their own lives and to the communities in which they live.

Sometimes our work moves from the street to a building. For example our staff have supported community groups in Sandhurst and in Birch Hill to set up informal places for young people to drop in and hang around, and have worked in Crowthorne to with young people to develop their DJ skills. Sometimes groups of young people might ask us to help them plan a trip away, or even run a course in a subject they are interested in. We are happy to help young people find ways to make these things happen.

By its nature this work is fluid, moving from one area to another. The teams are not there to resolve disputes around anti-social behaviour, but are there to engage with young people who are open to our work.

Currently our teams are working on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings on the streets in various locations. On Wednesday and on Friday evenings they also support community groups in the provision of informal spaces for young people to meet.

If you would like to know more about our Street Based work please contact Maggie Newman,email: maggie.newman@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or Debbie Coleman, email: debbie.coleman@bracknell-forest.gov.uk