NEW SHERFORD YOUTH HANGOUT – LAUNCHING THIS WEEK
A new weekly drop-in for teenagers in Sherford is getting under way this Wednesday evening, as Sherford Kids & Youth (SKY) — a community-led initiative and part of Sherford Community Church — launches its first Youth Hangout session.
The idea grew out of conversations with children, young people and others in the local community, including Sherford Community Land Trust, who wanted to improve provision for young people in the area. Sherford Community Church was invited to take the lead, drawing on its extensive experience working with children and young people. After recruiting a team of volunteers from the church and wider community, SKY is now ready to get started.
Every Wednesday during term-time, from 7–8pm near the playpark and skateramps, the Youth Hangout offers an informal drop-in space for secondary-school aged teenagers. The volunteer team arrives with a trolley full of games and plenty of snacks — and each week, young people help decide what they'd like to do.
All volunteers are safely recruited and DBS-checked, and can be identified by their SKY uniform. The team is committed to following good safeguarding practice and creating safer spaces for young people.
Looking ahead, SKY hopes to work with local children, young people and the wider community to shape what the project becomes, whether that's growing the Youth Hangout, developing an indoor youth club, organising activities or adventures, or something else entirely.
The Youth Hangout is free and open to all teenagers in Sherford. The first session kicks off this Wednesday at 7pm. For more information, visit www.sherfordchurch.com/sky
