Youth Club

Mental Health First aid support for young people

Would you know how to help?

One in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. Suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 5-19.

In an average group of 30 15-year-olds:

  • Seven are likely to have been bullied
  • Six may be self-harming
  • One could have experienced the death of a parent

Record levels of young people are struggling. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, lack of availability of professional mental health support – all have been named by various sources as contributing to this epidemic of poor mental health in our young people.

It’s clear that young people are not getting the support they need. Key figures in a young person’s life – parents, family members, teachers, tutors, carers, youth workers – can often spot when a young person is struggling but may not know how best to help.

At Somerford Youth and Community Centre, we are trained to deliver Mental Health First Aid to young people aged 8 – 18. This means we have the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, we can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse. This has created an environment where we have the information and tools to look after our own mental health so that we can set an example for young people. By acquiring these tools to have these conversations, we have created a mentally healthy, supportive environment in our community.

We are also qualified under Mental Health First Aid England to train other s in Youth Mental Health First Aid and run the training courses to train others to become Youth Mental Health First Aiders.

The courses won’t teach you to be a therapist, but they will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis – and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

If you are a young person in need of mental health support then please get in touch with us. If you know of a young person who is struggling with their mental health and don’t know where to turn, please contact us.

If you are an adult, organisation or professional who would like to know more about the Youth MHFA training we offer, please Contact Us.

Youth Club

Youth Achievement and Duke of Edinburgh Award

We run the Duke of Edinburgh Award:

The Scheme creates a life-changing experience;  a fun time with friends; an opportunity to discover new interests and talents. It is a tool to develop essential skills for life and work and a recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.

The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.

14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and uni and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.

As a Licenced Organisation (LO) we are the only non-school community-based centre operating the scheme locally. Our focus is to support and encourage those young people who may not have the means nor the self-belief to undertake the Award.

The Youth Achievement Award

The UK Youth Achievement Awards (UKYAAs) champion a variety of learning methods to provide a unique framework that can be tailored to almost any activity, helping to engage a range of young people. The aim of the Award is to provide an accredited, flexible award framework to celebrate the achievements of all young people.

The UKYAAs, which are accredited by ASDAN, offer five levels. Young people can work their way up or enter at the most relevant point:

  • Challenge – entry level introduction to the UKYAAs
  • Bronze – taking part and getting involved
  • Silver – helping to organise
  • Gold – planning and leading
  • Platinum – taking a full leadership role, with an element of training

Each level of the award connects to a different point on the UK Youth Social Development Journey and represents different levels of participation. Through the UKYAAs, young people will gain vital life skills and become motivated, self-aware, receptive, resilient, responsible, confident and good communicators.

Please Contact Us if you require any further information on these Awards.

Youth Club

Youth Club and Activity Sessions

Our Youth Club Sessions are updated on this page so please check regularly for any changes.

After School Drop In

The after- school drop - in chill out zone is for any young person of secondary school age. This free session runs from 3.15pm – 4.30pm and allows young people access to our facilities. Staff are also on hand to offer any support and advice that young people may need. We also offer a quiet space with computers and internet access where young people can complete homework.

After school drop-in sessions

Monday
3.15pm – 4.30pm

After school drop-in session for young people of secondary school age.

Cost: Free

Tuesday
3.15pm – 4.30pm

After school drop-in session for young people of secondary school age.

Cost: Free

Wednesday
3.15pm – 4.30pm

After school drop-in session for young people of secondary school age.

Cost: Free

Thursday
3.15pm – 4.30pm

After school drop-in session for young people of secondary school age.

Cost: Free

Friday
3.15pm – 4.30pm

After school drop-in session for young people of secondary school age.

Cost: Free

Afternoon Activities

Monday
4.30pm – 6pm

Juniors Youth Club.
Ages 8 – 11 / school years 4 – 6.
Cost: £1.00

Tuesday
4.30pm – 5.30pm

Non-contact boxing club.
Ages 8+

Cost: £1.50

Wednesday
4.30pm – 6pm

Juniors Youth Club with trampolining. Ages 8 – 11 / school years 4 – 6.

Cost: £1.00

Thursday
4.30pm – 6pm

Inclusion club.
Youth club with trampolining for young people with additional needs. Ages 8+

Cost: £1.00

Friday
4.30pm – 6pm

Trampoline club ages 11+

Evening Activities

All youth clubs run during term time.

Tuesday
6pm – 8pm

Youth club.
Ages 11 – 16 (secondary school age)

Cost: £1.00

Thursday
6pm – 8pm

Youth club
Ages 11 – 16 (secondary school age)

Cost: £1.00

We do run a separate programme of activities during the school holidays, and these will be published as each holiday approaches.

Our Objectives

Raising Funds

RAISING FUNDS:

  • Seek opportunities for commissioned one to one work, or specific contractual work.
  • We continuously submit funding applications to 100’s of grant funders every year in order to bring in the money to pay for the work we do here.
  • Provide value for money and keep stakeholders updated.
  • Store and use information appropriately in accordance with GDPR updating our Groop recording system.
  • We are delighted to be the Mayor of Christchurch’s chosen charity this year.

Learn More About What We Do

Our Objectives

For The Wider Community

FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY WE WILL:

  • Offer advice and support where we can and signpost to other networks of support or agencies which may be able to offer further support.
  • Run community events that reduce isolation and loneliness and allows marginalsied groups of people to come together to share a common cause.
  • Develop services which may be relevant to supporting the community such as The People’s Pantry the Community Gym and volunteering opportunities.
  • Encourage other professionals to keep in touch with us as a way of keeping in touch with the local community.
  • Provide and rent suitable rooms when appropriate.
  • Looking for opportunities to expand our service in meeting the needs of the community such as the new annexe building we are currently putting up in our car park.

Learn More About Our Objectives And Aims For Raising Funds

Our Objectives

For Young People

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WE WILL

  • Enable young people’s emotional wellbeing and resilience by offering different recreational services and activities including youth clubs and school holiday activity programmes. We will also offer opportunities for personal skill development by running schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Youth Achievement Award. We will be able to support young people with their physical, emotional, and mental health by engaging them in activities at the centre and by offering one to one mentoring support where we can run bespoke support sessions for them.
  • We will work in partnership with a variety of youth, community, and health agencies both from the statutory sector and voluntary sector which operate both locally and nationally.
  • We are focussed on the fact that our two biggest partners are 1 our young people and 2 the local community and their needs and wants are our priority.
  • We will provide emotional, relationship and sexual health support, training, keeping safe and when needed seek additional help for those at significant risk of harm.
  • Encourage young people to be part of our service delivery here by volunteering and helping out here at the centre.

Learn More About Our Objectives And Aims For The Wider Community

Our Objectives

Our Objectives And Aims

Our objectives and aims are:

  • To provide a service that addresses and meets community needs young people, their families, and the wider community from the local and surrounding area.
  • To educate young people on issues of life, personal, social, emotional, and mental development by providing activities that are fun, informative and inspiring.
  • To provide a space where young people can come to which is a safe location that promotes their safety, wellbeing, and participation in their local community.
  • To develop the use of the centre such that it is used to its maximum potential.
  • We are affiliated to UK Youth, the National Youth Agency and Dorset Youth Association adhering to practice standards and guidance laid out by them. Our Safeguarding practice is informed by following guidance set out by the Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership Training Team and by the NSPCC.
  • As a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation, we have to maintain our charity status by adhering to practices and procedures laid out by the Charities Commission and which are reviewed at Trustees meetings.
  • We aim to be flexible in our approach and review risk assessments, policies, and action plans on a regular basis.
  • With COVID now part of all our lives we are constantly monitoring guidance and updates and adjusting working practices accordingly which may include reduction of numbers participating in activities, social distancing, face mask wearing, more detached and on-line work.
  • We will publicise our sessions on Facebook (SYCC), Instagram (SYCC16), and our website.

Learn More About Our Objectives And Aims For Young People

Meet The Team

James Pritchard

James Pritchard – Trustee Treasurer.

James joined us in 2020. He owns a business designing and creating environmentally friendly living walls and roofs which he has successfully run for the past 16 years.

Meet The Team

Wilbert Smith

Wilbert Smith – Trustee Secretary.

Wilbert became a Trustee in 2016. He is the Community Development Officer for the local council.

Meet The Team

Richard Gale

Richard Gale – Trustee Chairperson.

Richard joined us in 2020. He is the majority shareholder of Poole Town FC and is their Kids and Community officer  having formerly been the vice chairman. Richard is also trustee chairperson of the Gale Foundation Trust.