Youth Connect is a charity working with young people primarily in BANES. Covid-19 and the restrictions have been challenging but as a service Youth Connect has continued to provide services for young people and families in different ways.

Youth Connect have been keeping in regular touch with young people though detached youth work in parks and places that young people are gathering, working to support local communities and keep young people safe. This includes providing work with young people gathering in the Royal Victoria Park and the Crescent, with support from Project 28. We have also been operating regular Zoom youth clubs for young people and have delivered art and cooking activities online, through dropping of activity packs and then doing the activities live online with young people. Young people have told us that this has “been really good to keep in touch and keeping doing youth club”. This work has been funded in part by Paulton Parish council, Westfield parish council, Timsbury parish council and Radstock Parish council. Now with change to guidance from the National Youth Agency we are excited to be able to offer regular groupwork sessions in Paulton, Radstock, Westfield, Timsbury and Whiteway. Information on these sessions will be available on www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk. Youth Connect are keen to engage with as many young people as possible and would welcome new members or young people who are already registered but not currently using one of our youth clubs. Please speak to your youth or engagement worker or give Kelly a call on 07875 48878 for more information.

Youth Connect also provides support for young people who have issues that affect them, during Covid-19 pandemic they have been providing one to one support through phone calls and video calls. We have received lots of positive feedback from parents that this support has made a real difference in these challenging times. Through this work Youth Connect are noticing that anxiety and mental health is an increasing issue for young people. In order to combat this and the isolation from Covid-19 restrictions Youth Connect received a small grant for Quartet which has enabled us to supply over 20 young people with laptops and tablets to enable them to do schoolwork and keep in touch. We are now regularly meeting young people face to face in outside location or in our indoor safe space at Southside Youth Hub.

Youth Connect has during the pandemic supported families with access to food; through our partnership with Wessex water we provided 33 meals a day to families that we’re shielding. At southside Youth Hub we have started a temporary food pantry to support families whose income has been affected by the pandemic, this project is supported by fare share.

A member of youth Connect staff who has been shielding has kept himself busy by making fun information for video for young people in regard to keeping yourself safe during CoVid-19. His videos have had an amazing response some of his video have over 2.5 thousand views. You can follow us on facebook: YouthConnectSouthWest or on Instagram @youthconnectsouthwest to see the videos and get updates about our services.

Support for young people leaving school

If you are leaving school this year, we realise is more challenging than ever. If you are in years 11/12/13 and don’t know what to do contact us and we will put you in touch with a career advisor to get help with next steps, please go to our website for more information www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk; or ring 0753 0263214 who will connect you with a careers advisor. We like to hear from you whatever your doing so call us and let us know what your up to.

In the next few weeks young people will receive a “Your Pathway” booklet which will have more information about the choices open to you.

For more information please check out our website www.youthconnectsouthwest.org.uk;