Youth Support
Barnet Youth and Connexions Service
Our Integrated Youth Support Service has four elements;
- Positive activities
- Information, advice and guidance
- Community and volunteering
- Targeted youth support.
There are a number of facilities that provide this support, including;
- four youth centres
- youth theatre
- music studio
- drugs and alcohol project
- two young people's drop-in centres for information, advice and guidance.
There are many more activities offered by voluntary and community groups. You can find many details of these in our "Things to Do" directory.
Barnet Youth and Connexions Service provides services to all young people in Barnet including;
- those who need extra support with education
- young people who have special educational needs
- those at risk of not being in education, employment or training
- those at risk of offending.
Positive activities
Youth centres
We have youth centres in Dollis Valley, Mill Hill, Burnt Oak and Grahame Park. These centres are open in the evenings and during the holidays for a range of activities for young people.
Each centre has a different focus as activities are developed in response to the needs of the local young people. All centres are fully accessible. We are currently upgrading some of our centres and expanding the provision offered.
Barnet Positive Activities Summer University
Summer university activities are aimed at 8-19 year olds (up to 25 with learning disabilities) and now run in Barnet during all school holidays, including half-terms. The programmes are made up of free short courses under the following five headings;
- study and careers
- arts and music
- IT and new media
- film, media and digital arts
- sport.
For a list of the latest courses in Barnet and to enrol go to www.summerunilondon.org
Youth and Connexions youth centres and projects
Burnt Oak Young People's Activity Centre
Based in the Burnt Oak Leisure Centre, the youth centre is open every Tuesday night from 6.30pm - 8.30pm for all young people and every Thursday night from 5.30pm - 8.30pm for young women. The youth centre offers numerous activities aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 19. These include;
- table tennis
- programmes addressing current local and national issues affecting young people
- IT suite
- women's group
- art room
- football
- cooking
- outreach work in the local area
- dance projects
- holiday provision activities.
Young people are also free to drop-in or call workers for advice and guidance.
In addition there is an ongoing quarterly programme of events aimed at meeting the needs of the young people in the area. Young people are also able to gain accreditations for completed programmes of work;
- Address: Watling Avenue,
Edgware,
HA8 0NJ - Tel: 020 8359 6401
- Email: burntoak.youthcentre@barnet.gov.uk.
Canada Villa Young People's Activity Centre – Mill Hill
Based in the Mill Hill area, the youth centre is open every Wednesday from 6.30pm - 8.30 pm. The centre is also open on Thursdays from 3.30pm - 7.30pm as a Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre. In addition, the Centre is open on two evenings a week for music and drama sessions, days may vary, please phone for further information.
The Youth Centre offers numerous activities aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 19. These include;
- table tennis
- programmes addressing current local and national issues affecting young people
- arts and crafts
- project nights
- Rithmik music studio
- cooking
- dance
- drama
- holiday provision activities
- DofE Duke of Edinburgh Open Award Centre.
Young people are also free to drop-in or call workers for advice and guidance.
In addition there is an ongoing quarterly programme of events aimed at meeting the needs of the young people in the area. Young people are also able to gain accreditations for completed programmes of work.
- Address: Pursley Road,
Mill Hill,
NW7 2BU - Tel: 0208 359 3530
- Email: canadavilla.youthcentre@barnet.gov.uk.
Detached Youth Work Team
Detached youth work in local communities. The team works with young people in street and other settings to help set up new youth projects and to get involved with activities to build confidence
- Tel: 020 8359 3535
- Email: russell.muir@barnet.gov.uk.
Interested in drama, dance, theatre, construction, lighting or sound? Finchley Youth Theatre runs courses and programmes for young people aged between 11 and 25 years, in drama, dance and technical theatre skills, including lighting, construction and sound.
Partnership work with the Inclusive Play Opportunities Project (IPOP) has created programmes for young people with disabilities to engage in drama and dance workshops throughout the year. This excellent resource has its own theatre space, rehearsal rooms and offices, but also works in other youth projects across the borough, including at Canada Villa Young People's Activity Centre.
- Address: 142 High Road,
East Finchley,
N2 9ED - Tel: 020 8359 3540
- Email: fytinfo@barnet.gov.uk
Grahame Park Young People's Activity Centre
Based in the Grahame Park Estate, the youth centre is open every Monday night from 6pm - 8.30pm and every Thursday night from 6pm - 8.30 pm. The centre is also open on Wednesday nights for a refugee project from 5.30pm - 8.30pm. In addition, the centre runs a football club every Wednesday from 5pm - 6.15pm with a qualified coach.
The Youth Offending Service also operate from the Centre every week day from 9am - 5pm.
The Youth Centre offers numerous activities aimed at Young People between the ages of 13 and 19. These include:
- basket ball
- programmes addressing current local and national issues affecting young people
- football skills
- cooking
- IT suite
- arts and crafts
- project nights
- holiday provision activities
- martial arts
Young people are also free to drop-in or call workers for advice and guidance.
In addition there is an ongoing quarterly programme of events aimed at meeting the needs of the young people in the area. Young people are also able to gain accreditations for completed programmes of work.
- Address: Corner Mead,
Grahame Park Way,
NW9 5RA - Tel: 020 8359 3561
- Email: grahamepark.youthcenre@barnet.gov.uk
Rainbow Young People's Activity Centre – Dollis Valley
Based on the Dollis Valley Estate, the youth centre is currently open every Thursday night from 6.30pm - 8.30pm. The Centre offers numerous activities aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 19. These include:
- basketball
- programmes addressing current, local and national issues affecting young people
- table tennis
- arts and crafts
- self-defence and safety awareness
- dance
- DJ mixing
- project nights
- cooking
- holiday provision activities.
Young people are also free to drop-in or call workers for advice and guidance.
In addition there is an ongoing quarterly programme of events aimed at meeting the needs of the young people on the Estate. Young people are also able to gain accreditations for completed programmes.
- Address: Dollis Valley Drive,
Dollis Valley,
EN5 2UN - Tel: 020 8359 3551
- Email: rainbow.youthcentre@barnet.gov.uk
RITHMIK music studio
RITHMIK is a music project for young people aged 13 to 19. Young people can develop their creative and technical skills at this purpose-built music facility. Activities include music production, learning instruments and singing. Sessions are offered in:
- music production
- vocal and MC skills
- performance skills
- studio recording.
The main studio is at Canada Villa Young People's Activity Centre with outreach music sessions taking place at other centres/projects in the Borough. Some courses are accredited by AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance).
- Tel: 020 8359 3562
- Email: rithmik@barnet.gov.uk
Information, advice and guidance
With our integrated Youth and Connexions Service we now have over forty Connexions personal advisers working from within our service, providing a full range of information, advice and guidance services to young people in all Barnet secondary schools. Our personal advisers also operate in:
- pupil referral units
- Youth Offending Team
- drug and alcohol project
- housing support
- leaving care team
- young people’s drop-in centres and other community settings.
Barnet has been successful in meeting its targets to reduce the number of NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people, and our new structure will enable us to broaden our preventative agenda for this group, linking information, advice and guidance with our positive activities agenda, and broadening support offered on sexual health, mental health and family support.
For help and advice in funding activities or setting up new projects for young people please visit our Children and Young People Funding page.
Connexions Personal Advisers
Connexions Personal Advisers work individually and confidentially with young people helping them with personal issues, other advice and guidance to find education courses, training or work. There is a Connexions personal adviser (PA) working in each secondary school in Barnet and young people can arrange to see the personal adviser in school, or in one of the drop-in centres.
Advisers are also based in other community settings such as Barnet Housing Team and the Youth Offending Service.
Schools' work
Many personal advisors are based in the secondary schools across Barnet and work with young people between year groups nine and 13. Their work is concentrated with GCSE and sixth form students, ensuring that they have appropriate progression routes into education or work.
They will also address any other issues that are acting as barriers in the young person's life and preventing them from progressing in whatever they choose to do. This could mean helping them with their finances or housing situation by supporting applications for benefits and suitable accommodation.
In addition if a young person has any other issues or concerns that they need more ongoing support for then a PA is able to plan a series of interventions with the young person to map work things through. This will involve working with and referring to the variety of other agencies that work to support young people.
There is also a PA based in the Pavilion Study Centre, which is the borough's Pupil Referral Unit for excluded young people. This client group has particularly intensive needs. The PA provides the same service here as in mainstream schools
Community settings
Personal Advisors also work in other community and statutory settings. The PA based with the youth offending team (YOT) works with the wider YOT to support young offenders as an essential part of the rehabilitation package. The PA will focus on ensuring the young person has a place in education or employment, which is essential for them to progress positively and not to re-offend.
Similarly the PAs based in the housing and the leaving care teams work alongside the statutory workers as an essential component of the team. The housing PA supports the more vulnerable young people that are homeless to ensure they understand the housing process and are able to look after and support themselves in independent living.
The leaving care PA focuses their work on education and employment advice and guidance so that the young people are fully supported in their progression to independence at this crucial time.
Another PA is linked with Barnet Impact drug and alcohol project and supports the specialist drugs workers with the young people.
Drop-in centres
In addition to schools and the other community settings PAs are based in one of four Youth and Connexions drop-in centres. We are working to increase open hours to evenings and weekends.
Centres offering the Connexions Service
Hendon Youth Base Young People's Centre
Youth Base is open Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm. (Monday, it closes at 4pm). Young people aged 13-19, or up to 25 with learning and or physical difficulties can drop-in for information, advice and guidance on a range of issues.
Youth Base is staffed by experienced Youth Workers and Personal Advisors who will be able to give information and help with things such as careers, benefits, housing, drugs and alcohol and sexual health. They will also help young people to find positive activities and things to do in their local area.
- Address: 44 Church End,
Hendon,
NW4 4JT - Tel: 020 8359 3275
- Email: youthbase@barnet.gov.uk
331 Young People's Service at 34-36 Woodhouse Road
331 is open Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm and Friday 10am-6pm and offers a wide range of services including advice, information, support, counselling and sexual health.. The service is open to young people aged between 12 and 25 years of age. More details of 331 can be found at advice for young people.
- Address: 34-36 Woodhouse Road
North Finchley
N12 0RG - Tel: 020 8359 3100
- Email: 331@barnet.gov.uk
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Community and volunteering
Youth participation
United Youth is our young people’s service user group.
They also work with Barnet Youth Bank, a grant-making initiative for young people, supported by Barnet Youth and Connexions. Youth Bank are a group of young people who distribute grants to other young people to set up new projects.
In 2009-10 this group allocated over £199,000 of grants to new provision. Every year this group organises a Celebration Event which showcases these activities with performances, videos and workshops from projects that have received funding. In March 2010 this event was held at Middlesex University and was attended by over 300 people.
Targeted Youth Support
Our targeted youth support strategy incorporates an extensive analysis of the needs of our local youth population, and highlights incidents of vulnerability using geographical maps of Barnet.
These maps help guide our youth workers building information about local areas and local needs.
Detached youth work
Our Detached youth work team focus their work in specific geographical areas and also provide support to ‘hot-spot’ areas which may be identified by partners including the police.
Current areas include Dollis Valley, Cricklewood and Stonegrove Estate. The work aims to support young people to think of their own activities, and even to apply for funding to get these projects up and running.
Alternatively the groups may be encouraged to join in existing activities, or join in holiday programmes. The detached team work closely with a range of partners, including the Rolling Base, so they have information about many activities in Barnet.
BASE
BASE is an on-line directory of activities for young people aged 11 - 19. It contains information on :
- sports
- drama
- music
- events
- youth clubs
- advice.
Children, young people and families
Email this pageLast modified by: Karen Raingold on 24/07/2010