Youth work is life changing, sometimes even life-saving'

Some of the young people we support at Berkshire Youth have the weight of the world on their young shoulders – whether it’s anxiety, problems at home or other issues. We aim to lighten their load by providing a safe space with trusted adults, where conversations happen and positive relationships develop that can have a transformative effect on wellbeing, helping young people to better understand and tackle any barriers they face.

Berkshire Youth have been serving the young people of Berkshire, delivering excellent and efficient youth support services for almost 85 years. Berkshire Youth support young people as they transition from childhood to young adulthood, many are vulnerable or disadvantaged, unable to access help elsewhere. Tough childhood experiences can limit life chances. We focus on prevention and helping young people who are missing out, not yet in crisis and who cannot afford what is on offer or face barriers to access.

They may come from a disadvantaged background, have mental health issues, responsibility as a carer, a chaotic family life or have low self-esteem. We support clubs and groups to provide safe environments in which young people can explore new ideas, activities and opportunities. We do this by building on local agendas, responding to the needs of young people and local communities, offering support to local partners and direct provision as appropriate. We firmly believe that by addressing social issues, promoting personal development and collaborating with various stakeholders, we can empower young people to reach their full potential and be the best version of themselves they can be and therefore, contribute positively to society.

The Waterside Centre in Newbury is one of our main youth centres, plus we support local youth clubs in the more rural communities, who cannot access a town centre easily, working with them to support their own young people in their community.