Finding space at Third Space Youth Club

Essex VVU Community Grants work with a wide range of amazing groups across Essex, delivering activities and support which help young people stay safe, feel supported and thrive in their local communities.

This programme responds to what young people consistently tell us matters to them – safe spaces, trusted adults and positive activities that help them feel safe and supported.

One of these amazing groups is The Third Space Youth Club in Chapel Hill, Braintree and we recently visited the Friday evening session which is funded by Essex VVU.

The Youth Club runs out of Essex County Council’s Youth Centre and on the evening we visited there were a huge range of positive activities on offer for young people to get involved with – including basketball, bracelet making, drawing, colouring, table top games, pool, and photography.

The club is really popular and 45 young people regularly attend each session, which is the maximum number the club can accommodate. The young people told us how much they love attending the club, they’ve made friends and feel it is a safe space to hang out – with some having experienced bullying at their local park.

Talking to the youth workers they told us how they are building positive relationships with those who attend the club, with more than 100 different young people having visited and engaged with the activities on offer.

It was great to see the youth club so vibrant, with high levels of energy from all the young people in attendance. Young people being kept safe, spending time with trusted adults and their friends, developing social skills and building relationships.