Giving young people somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to trust

For more than 20 years, TRAIN Youth Club in Didcot has offered young people a safe, inclusive and supported space and the opportunity to connect with trusted youth workers. They want to create a place where young people are empowered, supported and heard, supporting them to make informed decisions, develop their self-confidence, and access new opportunities.

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Trusted conversations in a safe space

TRAIN's youth club isn’t just a welcoming space. For some of the disadvantaged 10–18-year-olds they support, it's the only time of the week they can have a trusted conversation with an adult that feels safe. TRAIN youth workers know the impact of just being there consistently, week after week. Many of them came to Youth Club themselves as teenagers, and they know what it's like to be going through stuff that you feel like you can't talk about. 

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Creating spaces that young people can identify with

Enter their Didcot Youth Club on a Thursday evening and you'll see bright artwork painted on the walls, drinks and snacks ready to welcome you, a range of games tables and activities to get stuck into, or comfy sofas where you can just chill after a long day. Beneath all that, the magic is really happening in the relationships built between the youth workers there and the young people that attend. 

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Many of the young people TRAIN supports are at risk of marginalisation. Some are dealing with major challenges such as poverty, family instability, or abuse. Others don’t feel like school is a safe space and are beginning to disengage, whether due to unmet educational needs or struggles with their peers. Some are taking risks with drugs or alcohol or are vulnerable to exploitation. 

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Jude’s Story

Jude* has been coming to Youth Club for a while, but recently, the youth workers there had noticed a difference in them. They'd been turning up less frequently, and through TRAIN's connections with local schools, they knew they were drifting from there too.

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During one Youth Club session, they gently started a conversation with Jude, where they opened up about challenges at home and in school and their use of class A drugs. It was due to months of slowly building trust with Jude that they felt comfortable to share with the team.

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Youth workers signposted Jude to local organisations that provided targeted advice and support and helped them to reduce their drug use. In turn, this improved their mental health and wellbeing, and Jude felt comfortable to start coming to the Youth Club more regularly again and became more receptive to additional chats about home and school life.

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This story shows how early intervention and safe, open access spaces like TRAIN's Youth Club can have an impact, allowing young people to talk without judgement and gain support, advice, and guidance.

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*The young person’s name has been changed to protect their identity.

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Empowering young people 

TRAIN youth club gives young people in Didcot somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to trust. Building relationships over time, youth workers become a positive, safe space that young people can open up to.

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The trusted relationships built with youth workers can be a bridge to transformation for young people. Whether it's being signposted to external services or getting more deeply involved with other TRAIN services like leadership projects or mentoring, young people can see their own strengths, make use of a consistent support network, and choose more positive actions towards their future. 

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Last year, 385 young people attended TRAIN youth clubs. In a survey, 82% of respondents taking part in the Youth Club said TRAIN had helped them feel better about the future, and over 90% said that it had improved their mental health and helped them to make positive choices. 

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As one young person put it:

"I really enjoy TRAIN; I loved dropping in after school after a long week and having a space to talk to youth workers."

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Warm Welcome Awards

TRAIN Youth Club received an honourable mention for the Rt Hon. Gordon Brown Chain of Hope Award. 

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