Supporting Young People: Activities and Opportunities in Leigh Park
Young people in Leigh Park have access to a growing range of activities, support services, and opportunities designed to help them develop skills, build confidence, and enjoy their teenage years. The Leigh Park Initiative is committed to ensuring that every young person, regardless of background or circumstance, can access quality provision.
Research consistently shows that young people benefit enormously from structured activities outside school. These provide safe spaces to socialise, develop new interests, build resilience, and form positive relationships with mentors and peers. Yet access to quality youth provision remains patchy across many areas.
What we currently offer: Our youth programmes run several evenings a week and include sports, creative activities, gaming, outdoor adventures, and quiet spaces for homework or just hanging out. We employ qualified youth workers who genuinely understand young people's concerns and can provide both support and challenge.
Beyond regular activities, we run:
- Holiday clubs during school breaks
- One-to-one mentoring for young people facing particular challenges
- Peer support and friendship groups
- Skills workshops covering everything from job interviews to financial literacy
- Outdoor education and adventure activities
- Creative programmes including music, art, and drama
We also recognise that some young people face particular barriers. We work closely with schools, social services, and other agencies to ensure that young people who are vulnerable, isolated, or struggling can access appropriate support.
Participation is free or heavily subsidised because we believe cost should never prevent a young person from getting involved. We also provide transport assistance where needed, and we're flexible about attendance—young people can drop in when they can, rather than committing to rigid schedules.
Parents and carers often ask whether activities are genuinely supervised and safe. We take safeguarding extremely seriously. All staff and regular volunteers undergo DBS checks and receive safeguarding training. We maintain clear policies about supervision ratios, behaviour expectations, and emergency procedures.
If you're a young person interested in getting involved, visit during activity times or ask a youth worker about what's available. If you're a parent wanting to know more, we're always happy to chat and can usually arrange a visit so you can see what we do.
We're also keen to hear from young people about what activities they'd like to see. Your voice genuinely shapes our planning, and we regularly seek feedback about what's working and what could be better.