Safe Spaces for Young People

Safe Spaces for Young People is a network of drop-in Youth Projects across Birmingham that provide a safe space for young people to gather every week, where young people can feel welcome, connect, participate and build positive relationships.

The concept came out of gatherings of local youth workers wanting to resource & increase the youth provision across the city. The vision is for every neighbourhood to have a space where young people feel safe to connect. Each Safe Space will be different depending on its context, and the space could be a building, park, sports club or outdoor games areas.

Led by a development group of youth work practitioners, the network is held together by core values and principles to which each Safe Space signs up. The network has Christian roots but aims to be an inclusive network to any project who agree with the vision and sign up to the core values and principles.

Thrive’s links with the Church of England Birmingham, has meant we have secured funding from the Church Commissioners Innovation Fund to work specifically with Church of England churches to set up and run Safe Spaces for Young People. This funding also supports them to explore discipleship opportunities for young people who are interested in exploring faith.