Who we are
We are a new CIC based in Norfolk, with a focus on Breckland. We are looking to improve youth provision in the area, particularly for vulnerable teenagers. We believe this benefits both young people and the communities they live in.
About us
Building brighter futures for young people in Norfolk and Breckland.
Beside Youth is a new CIC focused on improving youth provision, particularly for vulnerable teenagers, by providing long-term, inclusive support rooted in community.
Mission statement
Building brighter futures by delivering inclusive youth groups that integrate social activities and wellbeing services, with a commitment to long-term mentorship.
Background
Most youth services are on specific dates and times and stop once you turn a certain age. Our aim is to provide a consistent form of support for as long as it is needed.
Many young people do not have a safe, dependable adult to talk to, and many do not have a safe place to go daily. For some, home is not a calm environment, and there are very few spaces they can go without paying. Young people have told us this often leads to time spent on the streets, drinking, and smoking. We want to change that.
Areas in Breckland, including parts of Watton, Dereham, Swaffham, and Thetford, have some of the highest deprivation rates in the country, particularly in education and skills. From this context and first-hand experience, many young people have limited ambition, self-belief, and opportunity. We aim to stand beside them with support, guidance, and opportunities to change this.
What young people have said
"I think the youth support is needed as it helps to support children of a variety of different ages. It gives them a group of people they can talk to about any type of issue and they will get advice on what they should do. It gives them an opportunity to have time away from home or friends if needed."
"The project would be good to give children the chance to do things they wanted normally get to do. It would also be good to have a space we can go."
"We want to help other people like us. We have skills that we could pass on to younger kids. We could mentor them."
Youth led
This project has been created alongside a focus group of young people. They chose the name, the logo, and helped design the aims and core aspects of the organisation. We believe it is important for young people to have a direct say in what youth provision looks like.
Aims
To create a safe space for young people
We want to ensure that young people have a safe space to go, with safe adults who will provide support and a listening ear.
To provide support for as long as it is needed
We do not believe in stopping support just because you have reached a certain age. Our service will be there for as long as a person may need it.
To create an effective mentoring scheme
Young people often listen best to people they can relate to, so we are aiming to create a mentoring scheme that reflects this.
To have a community-based approach
We want young people to take pride in the communities they live in. We would like members of the community to get involved in the project, and in return our young people will give back.
Positive outcomes
- A reduction in antisocial behaviour, with young people becoming proud of their local community and helping make it a better place for future generations.
- An improvement in the wellbeing of local young people, in regard to both physical and mental health.
- Young people gaining new skills and higher levels of ambition that lead to brighter futures.
Funding
- Grants, both local and national
- Fundraising events such as bingo, quizzes, and family fun days
- Community fundraising
- Schools, pubs, and local organisations fundraising on our behalf
- Businesses providing monetary or in-kind donations
- Youth-led fundraising initiatives
- Small fees for some workshops and services
The community-based approach
How the community can help
- Local businesses helping fund the running of groups
- Businesses providing work experience for young people
- Members of the community teaching skills workshops
How the project will give back
- Reducing antisocial behaviour by providing safe spaces and building stronger respect for local communities
- Young-people-led community projects such as Food Hub collaboration, cooking meals for others, workshops for younger children, and litter picking
Small scale plan - initial project
Eventually we aim to run a variety of youth projects. For now, we are starting by supporting vulnerable teenagers through a focused initial project.
- Providing a safe space for vulnerable teenagers to go
- Giving access to safe adults they can talk to
- Providing workshops on topics such as healthy relationships and county lines
- Creating a mentoring scheme where older young people mentor younger peers
- Continuing support post-18 where needed
- Working alongside the community through local-led workshops and youth volunteering initiatives
Our aim is for young people to have
- Somewhere to go
- Someone who will listen to them
- A place to help them build new skills
- A stronger sense of community
Long-term plan
Our long-term plan is to create youth hubs across Norfolk and beyond. We aim to have buildings young people can call their own, running five days a week with different groups across the week to meet local needs.
We also aim to provide workshops and community projects from the hub, including topics such as healthy relationships and county lines, as well as sessions delivered by community members and young people for other young people.
At times when groups are not running, the centre would be used as a drop-in space for homework and safe social time.
Groups we would focus on
- NEET young people, particularly those who have been PEX'd
- Home-educated young people
- Young carers
- Young people with SEND
- Parent support
Get in touch
If you would like to support this vision, partner with us, or learn more, we would love to hear from you.