This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Youth Work and its role in your community
9 May 2024
At YMCA Brunel Group, we work closely with young individuals, fostering an environment where they can thrive, learn, and grow.
With 8 youth clubs and 4 young carers’ groups, we work with anyone aged between 10 and 19 years, with provisions for those up to 25 years old with Special Educational Needs. We encourage young people to be good neighbours and active members of their community.
YMCA Youth Clubs provide safe spaces where every voice is heard and valued. Our Youth & Community work reaches throughout East and South Somerset. We work in Coleford, Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street, and Yeovil.
The Importance of Youth Work
Youth work serves as a cornerstone in the development of individuals and communities alike. At YMCA Brunel Group, we recognize the significance of providing meaningful opportunities for young people to engage, learn, and grow.
Our youth workers create spaces where young people can explore their interests, build essential life skills, socialise with friends and develop a sense of belonging. Young people face many challenges, which are not always visible. Social pressures, family life, academic stress and other issues affect the youth in our communities. We aim to provide much-needed support and guidance to our young people and encourage to be the best they can be, no matter their background.
Ultimately, youth work is more than just a service; it is an investment in the future. By empowering young individuals to become confident individuals and good neighbours, we lay the foundation for a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow.
YMCA BG youth club members were asked what youth work is to them.
Understanding Young Carers
Young carers are young people under 18 who take on significant caring responsibilities for a family member who is ill, disabled, or experiencing mental health issues. The average age of a young carer in the UK is 12; the majority are caring for their mum and consequentially their siblings too.
Young carers often miss out on the opportunities that other children have:
- They are likely to have significantly lower educational attainment than their peers
- They are often bullied at school for being ‘different’
- Young carers can often become socially isolated because they have no one to talk to who understands their situation.
At YMCA Brunel Group we provide a programme of activities for young carers (8-18yrs), where they can gain respite from their carer responsibilities. Young carers in our sessions eat a meal together, play board games, listen to music and engage in new activities. Our young carers groups offer a safe and nurturing environment where they can connect with peers who understand their experiences.
Often unseen and unrecognised, young carers shoulder immense responsibilities from a young age, balancing caregiving duties with their own personal and educational needs. At YMCA Brunel Group, we provide dedicated support and resources to young carers, recognizing the unique challenges they face and the vital role they play within their families and their community.