Creating places young people actually wanted to be.
THE CHALLENGE
A youth centre can offer brilliant services. But first, young people have to want to walk through the door. Stoke-on-Trent was investing in its youth provision, with a focus on creating better places for young people particularly in disadvantaged communities. This wasn't simply about refurbishing tired buildings. It was about creating places young people could connect with, feel ownership of and actually want to spend time in.
THE FUNDING
The programme came during a wider period of national investment in youth facilities, including the government's Youth Capital Fund, which provided local authorities with funding to improve places for young people and encouraged young people to have a genuine say in how those spaces were developed.
For Stoke, it created an opportunity to rethink its youth environments as part of a broader approach to increasing engagement with young people across the city.
THE APPROACH
Working with Stoke-on-Trent Youth Services, led by Pat Shelley, Head of Youth Service, we started by listening to the young people using these spaces. Each centre got its own personality graphics, colour, local references, their own ideas. Council buildings became places that felt relevant to their communities.
The environment became part of the engagement.
OUTCOME
Following the refurbishment programme, Stoke-on-Trent reported increases in contacts of between 45% and 170% at individual youth centres.
Source: Stoke-on-Trent Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Needs Assessment, 2010.
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THE CHALLENGE
Youth centres only work if young people want to use them. Stoke-on-Trent wanted to transform tired facilities into places young people could connect with, feel ownership of and want to spend time in.
THE FUNDING
Supported by a period of national investment in youth facilities, including the Youth Capital Fund, the programme put young people at the heart of shaping their spaces.
THE APPROACH
Working with Stoke Youth Services, led by Pat Shelley, Head of Youth Service, we listened to young people and gave each centre its own personality. Colour, graphics, language and local ideas turned functional spaces into places that felt like theirs.
THE OUTCOME
45%–170% increase in youth contacts at individual centres following refurbishment.
Stoke-on-Trent Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Needs Assessment, 2010.
