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Beyond the Box

by London Borough of BexleyPeabody Housing

*New Community Venue Opens at Cygnet Square in Thamesmead: A Safe Space for Young People*

Thamesmead, London – This evening, residents and community members gathered at Signet Square to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new community venue, developed in partnership with Beyond the Box and Peabody. The event featured a variety of activities, entertainment, and opportunities for local engagement.

The new venue is designed to serve as a safe space for young people, offering access to vital support services, employability skills, life skills development, CV building, and money management. In addition, the venue provides courses aimed at enhancing training and employment opportunities in the area, specifically tailored to meet the needs of the young community.

*Event Highlights:*

  • ⁠ ⁠*Opening Ceremony:* The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring local leaders and representatives from Beyond the Box and Peabody.
  • ⁠ ⁠*Community Engagement:* Participants explored opportunities to get involved in future events and programs at the venue, including an exciting podcast series highlighting local voices and stories.

“We were thrilled to open this new community venue at cygnet Square,” said  James Hensman at This venue represents our commitment to enriching the lives of Thamesmead residents, especially our youth, by providing them with valuable skills and support.”

Peabody’s Nadia  added, “This partnership is a testament to our dedication to community development. We believe this venue will become a cornerstone for social interaction, cultural exchange, and personal growth in Thamesmead.”

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who supported this initiative. The community is excited to embrace this new chapter and the opportunities it brings.

*About Peabody:* 

Peabody is a leading housing association committed to providing quality homes and services to communities across London and the South East.

*About Beyond the Box:* 

Beyond the Box is an organization dedicated to empowering communities through innovative projects and initiatives that build engagement and collaboration.

Beyond the Buzz podcast launch (1)

BEYOND THE BUZZ

by London Borough of HaveringPodcasting

New Podcast Launch: Beyond the Buzz — Youth Voices on Drugs, Choices and Change

Youth Unity CIC is proud to launch Beyond the Buzz, a new youth-led podcast series developed in partnership with Havering Council, giving young people a platform to speak openly and honestly about drugs, alcohol, peer pressure and the choices they face.

Beyond the Buzz brings together authentic youth voices, professional insight and lived experience, creating open conversations that support prevention, education and better understanding between young people, parents and professionals

Honest Conversations Led by Young People

At the heart of Beyond the Buzz is a commitment to youth voice. Young people are involved in:

  • Choosing discussion topics
  • Hosting and leading conversations
  • Interviewing guests
  • Shaping the final episodes

Through podcast training and creative workshops, participants build confidence, communication skills and technical media experience, while also developing the confidence to speak about difficult topics in a safe and supported environment

What Topics Does the Podcast Cover?

Each episode explores real issues that affect young people and families, including:

  • Drug and alcohol misuse
  • Peer pressure and social expectations
  • Mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • School and education challenges
  • Youth slang and hidden terminology used around substances
  • Recovery journeys and positive change

The aim is not to lecture, but to inform, reflect and empower, helping young people understand risks while also hearing stories of resilience and recovery from those with lived experience

Bridging the Gap Between Young People and Adults

Beyond the Buzz is designed to support not only young people, but also:

  • Parents and carers
  • Schools and safeguarding leads
  • Youth and community professionals

By explaining terminology, trends and pressures that young people face, the podcast helps adults better understand modern drug culture and the realities young people navigate, improving communication and early intervention opportunities

Education, Prevention and Positive Futures

The podcast forms part of Youth Unity’s wider commitment to early help, prevention and safeguarding-led youth engagement. Episodes will be promoted through:

  • Schools and PSHE programmes
  • Youth services and community settings
  • Online podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts
  • Targeted social media campaigns

This ensures that learning and awareness extend beyond those taking part in recording, reaching the wider community with trusted, youth-informed messages

Building Skills, Confidence and Voice

For the young people involved, Beyond the Buzz supports:

  • Confidence and public speaking
  • Teamwork and listening skills
  • Digital and media production experience
  • Emotional expression and reflection
  • Understanding consequences and making informed choices

These transferable skills support wider education and employment pathways, while strengthening young people’s sense of ownership and positive identity within their communities

Looking Ahead

The pilot phase of Beyond the Buzz will deliver 10+ podcast episodes, followed by evaluation, youth feedback and impact reporting to inform future expansion across schools and youth settings in Havering and beyond.

Youth Unity CIC is proud to work alongside statutory partners to ensure that prevention work is not only informative, but shaped directly by the voices of those it is designed to support.

 

Youth voices rise in Barking & Dagenham

Fighting Chance

by London Borough of Barking & DagenhamPodcastingSPORTS & DEVELOPMENT
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

New Project Launch: Fighting Chance – Building Confidence, Strength and Youth Voice

Fighting Chance is proudly delivered from The Rising Generation Youth Centre, a brand-new community youth hub that has been co-designed by local young people — from the name of the centre through to the logo and creative identity. The space has been developed to reflect what young people in the area said they wanted and needed: somewhere safe, welcoming and inspiring, where they can explore new interests, hobbies and talents, build confidence and feel a sense of belonging.

The Rising Generation is more than just a venue — it is a growing hub for youth development, creativity and positive activity, supporting young people to discover what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what they might want to pursue in the future. Delivering Fighting Chance from this centre allows Youth Unity to provide consistent, trusted support within a space that young people themselves helped shape.

Youth Unity CIC is excited to launch Fighting Chance, a youth development programme combining boxing fitness, confidence-building activities and youth-led podcasting to support young people aged 10–18 across Barking and Dagenham.

Fighting Chance is designed to support both physical and emotional wellbeing, providing young people with structured activity, positive role models and opportunities to develop their voice in a safe and supportive environment. The programme reflects Youth Unity’s ongoing commitment to early intervention, prevention and relationship-based youth work.

What Does Fighting Chance Involve?

Each session blends two key elements:

🥊 Boxing Fitness and Discipline

Young people take part in non-contact boxing and fitness training focused on movement, coordination, focus and self-discipline. These sessions support physical health while also helping young people manage stress, build routine and develop confidence.

🎙️ Youth Voice and Podcasting

Alongside physical activity, participants take part in creative podcast workshops, where they learn communication skills, teamwork and self-expression. Young people help shape discussion topics and develop confidence in sharing their thoughts on issues that matter to them, such as school pressures, friendships, motivation and future goals.

All podcast sessions are delivered with trained youth workers present, ensuring conversations are supported, appropriate and safeguarding-led.

Why This Matters

Many young people face increasing pressures around school, mental wellbeing and social expectations. Fighting Chance creates a space where young people can:

  • Feel active, motivated and supported

  • Build positive relationships with peers and trusted adults

  • Develop confidence and communication skills

  • Engage in structured, purposeful activity outside of school

By combining physical training with creative expression, the programme supports young people in building resilience, self-belief and aspiration.

Working in Partnership

Fighting Chance is funded by London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council and delivered by Youth Unity CIC, working in partnership with local schools and community networks to ensure young people who will benefit most are able to access the programme.

Referrals are welcomed from schools, youth services and partner organisations, as well as through community outreach and family engagement.

Looking Ahead

As the programme develops, young people will also take part in creating content that shares their achievements and experiences, helping to amplify youth voice while building real-world creative and digital skills.

We look forward to sharing updates from sessions, podcast releases and impact from the programme as it progresses, and to celebrating the growth and achievements of the young people involved.

Phase 1: Community Engagement & Street-Level Outreach (Building Participation)
Phase Activity Session Date Purpose
Phase 1 School visits & street outreach Outreach Session 1 Tuesday 4 March School engagement, flyer distribution, local shop engagement
Phase 1 Community outreach & recruitment Outreach Session 2 Wednesday 5 March Street outreach, youth engagement, programme sign-up
Phase 2: Core Programme Launch (Structured Delivery Begins)
Phase Activity Session Date Purpose
Phase 2 Boxing & PT Session 1 Tuesday 10 March Programme launch
Phase 2 Podcasting Workshop 1 Wednesday 11 March Youth voice & creative engagement
Phase 2 Boxing & PT Session 2 Tuesday 17 March Skill development
Phase 2 Boxing & PT Session 3 Tuesday 24 March Consistency & relationship building
Phase 3: After-School “Lost Hours” Delivery (Sustained Engagement)
Phase Activity Session Date Purpose
Phase 3 Boxing & PT Session 4 Tuesday 31 March Maintaining engagement
Phase 3 Podcasting Workshop 2 Wednesday 1 April Creative reflection & storytelling
Phase 3 Boxing & PT Session 5 Tuesday 7 April Confidence & progression
Phase 3 Boxing & PT Session 6 Tuesday 15 April Mentoring through sport
Phase 3 Boxing & PT Session 7 Tuesday 22 April Programme consolidation
NEW FLYER FOR OVERALL

FAILING FORWARDS

by London Borough of HaveringPodcasting

Youth Unity CIC is proud to support Failing Forwards, a youth-led podcast created through the MYENDS Romford programme in Havering, giving young people a powerful platform to share their experiences, challenge stereotypes and speak openly about the realities of growing up in today’s communities.

Failing Forwards is not about polished performances or adult-led narratives. It is about real conversations, real experiences and real voices, led by young people who are often talked about, but rarely listened to.

A Platform for Honest Conversations

Through Failing Forwards, young people explore topics that directly affect their lives, including:

  • Mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • Education and school experiences
  • Drug misuse and peer pressure
  • Anti-social behaviour and community tensions
  • Knife crime and fear of violence
  • Confidence, identity and future aspirations

These conversations are raw, honest and reflective, allowing young people to speak openly about challenges, mistakes and the lessons they have learned along the way.

The aim is not to sensationalise experiences, but to create space for reflection, accountability and growth, while helping young people recognise their own resilience and potential.

Why Youth-Led Podcasting Matters

Podcasting provides young people with more than just a creative outlet. It supports:

  • Confidence and communication skills
  • Emotional expression and self-reflection
  • Positive peer discussion and listening skills
  • Digital and media experience
  • A sense of agency and ownership over their stories

By shaping the topics, leading discussions and contributing to production, participants develop confidence in sharing their perspectives and understanding that their voices have value.

All recordings take place in supported environments, with trained youth workers facilitating sessions and ensuring safeguarding and wellbeing are always prioritised.

Challenging Stereotypes and Changing Narratives

Failing Forwards also plays an important role in challenging negative stereotypes about young people in areas affected by deprivation and community safety concerns.

Instead of statistics and headlines, listeners hear directly from young people about:

  • What pressures they face
  • What support they feel is missing
  • What helps them stay focused and positive
  • What they want adults and decision-makers to understand

These lived experiences provide powerful insight for professionals, services and local partners working in prevention, education and youth support.

Part of the Wider MYENDS Romford Programme

The podcast forms part of Youth Unity’s wider delivery within the MYENDS Romford initiative, which focuses on early intervention, violence prevention and supporting young people at risk of exploitation or harm through relationship-based youth work, mentoring and creative engagement.

By combining direct support with creative platforms such as podcasting, the programme helps young people develop confidence while also contributing to community learning and service improvement.

Listening Leads to Change

Failing Forwards is about more than sharing stories — it is about creating understanding, building trust and opening pathways to positive change.

When young people are heard, valued and supported, they are more likely to engage positively with education, services and their communities. This podcast is one way Youth Unity and MYENDS are working to ensure young people are not just supported, but actively involved in shaping conversations about their futures.

 

SQUARE FOR SOCIALS

ReThreaded Sustainable Fashion

by LONDON BOROUGH HAVERINGReThreaded

RETHREADED — Youth-Led Sustainable Fashion for Young Women

Youth Unity CIC is proud to launch RETHREADED, a new youth-led sustainable fashion programme supporting girls aged 14–19 to build confidence, creativity and enterprise skills through upcycling and design.

Delivered in partnership with Havering Youth Services and generously supported by Park Charitable Trust for Girls, the programme brings together creativity and sustainability, giving young women practical skills while encouraging positive self-expression and teamwork.

Across a 12-week programme running from February to June 2026, participants will take part in hands-on workshops covering sewing and upcycling, branding and marketing, creative design and enterprise skills. Each cohort will work towards a final community showcase, celebrating their achievements and sharing their work with family, partners and the wider community.

A key element of RETHREADED is ensuring that young people’s voices are central to the project. Participants will help shape the project’s identity and create digital content that reflects their journey, building confidence and transferable media skills alongside their creative development.

We are extremely grateful to Park Charitable Trust for Girls for making this programme possible. Following the closure of Park School for Girls in Ilford, the Trust was established to continue its legacy by improving access to education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a primary focus on girls. Through this partnership, we are able to reach and support more young women with positive, future-focused opportunities.

RETHREADED reflects Youth Unity’s ongoing commitment to providing creative, preventative and empowering programmes that help young people build skills, confidence and aspiration for the future. We look forward to sharing updates and celebrating the achievements of the young women taking part.

🎥 Youth Voice at the Centre

A core part of RETHREADED is ensuring that young women are not just participants, but active storytellers of their own journey.

Throughout the programme, young people will create:

  • Social media content

  • Photography and video

  • Project branding and creative identity

This content will be shared across Youth Unity and Park Trust platforms, helping to amplify young women’s voices while building confidence in digital and media skills.

 

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KAILO Session 2

by KAILO

Kailo Small Circle – Session 2: Exploring Community and Belonging

Our second Kailo Small Circle session built on the strong foundations of week one, with young people arriving more confident, comfortable and ready to share their experiences. The focus of this session was to develop a **deeper understanding of the “opportunity area” — what community and belonging really mean to young people — and to begin exploring the different factors that shape how connected and safe they feel in their local area.

The session began with an interactive icebreaker that helped highlight both shared experiences and individual differences within the group. This naturally led into reflective conversations about identity, feeling included, and times when young people may feel anxious, isolated or treated differently because of their age, background or circumstances. These discussions created a safe space where young people could speak honestly and listen to one another with empathy and respect.

Young people then shared their “Visual Voice” work — photos they had taken in their local area showing places they enjoy, places they avoid, and things that influence how connected they feel to their community. These images sparked powerful conversations about the importance of having safe spaces to socialise, the role of sport and shared activities in building friendships, and how simple everyday interactions can help people feel part of something bigger. As one young person shared, being out with friends and playing football “brings us together, helps us make new friends, helps us socialise and communicate a lot more,” while another reflected that even saying hello to people in the neighbourhood can help them feel more involved in the community.

However, young people also spoke openly about barriers to feeling connected. Some shared that public spaces can feel unsafe, particularly when groups are hanging around, while others described how people can feel isolated, with “everyone kind of in their own world,” making it harder to build relationships. These honest insights helped the group recognise that belonging is influenced by many connected factors — not just individual choices, but environments, social attitudes and access to positive spaces.

In small groups, young people then began mapping the system around community and belonging, using mind maps to explore how different issues link together — such as lack of youth spaces, discrimination, social media, safety, and opportunities to mix with others. By drawing connections between these factors, the group started to see how challenges are often part of a wider system, and where change could potentially make the biggest difference.

The session ended with groups sharing their maps and reflecting on patterns that were starting to emerge, including which issues were mentioned most often and which felt most important to tackle. This collective reflection is a crucial step in the Kailo process, helping young people move from sharing experiences to identifying where they want to focus their energy and ideas for change.

Session 2 marked an important shift from getting to know each other, to working together as a team to understand the bigger picture. The depth of discussion, honesty and respect shown by the group was inspiring, and it is clear that young people are already thinking critically about their community and their role in shaping it. We are excited to see how these conversations continue to develop as the group moves into the next stage of system mapping and identifying change areas.

 

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Targeted Outreach And Early-Intervention Programmes

by KENT POLICEOutreach

Youth Unity CIC works in partnership with Kent Police and local Community Safety Partnerships to deliver Targeted Outreach And Early-Intervention Programmes across North Kent, including Dartford and Gravesham.

This collaboration focuses on reaching young people in community “hot spot” locations through positive, relationship-based engagement, offering safe spaces, trusted adults, and meaningful activities that help reduce vulnerability to exploitation, violence, and harm.

Together, we identify locations and times where young people are most at risk and deploy Youth Unity’s mobile outreach teams to provide immediate, visible support within the community, helping to build trust, improve feelings of safety, and connect young people into longer-term support where needed.


What the Outreach Includes

 

Mobile Intervention Support Service (MISS)

As part of the partnership, Youth Unity delivers its Mobile Intervention Support Service (MISS) — a transportable “safe haven” that brings positive activities directly into neighbourhoods where young people gather.

Sessions typically include:

  • Sports and physical activities (football, boxing, table tennis, basketball)
  • Creative engagement such as podcasting and music
  • Gaming and team challenges
  • Informal mentoring and trusted conversations
  • Signposting and referrals to further support

Youth Navigators and mentors use these activities as a gateway to build relationships, encourage teamwork, and support young people to make safer, more positive choices.

Trauma-Informed and Contextual Safeguarding Approach

All delivery is underpinned by:

  • Trauma-informed practice
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) awareness
  • Contextual safeguarding principles
  • Strong safeguarding and referral pathways

This ensures that young people are supported not just as individuals, but in the context of their wider environments — including peer groups, public spaces, online risks, and community pressures.

 

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Young People supporting Young People

by News & UpdatesWorkshops & Training

Celebrating Youth-Led Innovation: Building Mentoring Frameworks with Clear Pathways and Purpose

At Youth Unity, we strongly believe in creating opportunities for young people not only to receive support, but to help shape how that support is delivered. One of the things we are most proud of this year is the incredible initiative shown by one of our young mentors, who, at just 23 years old, has designed a full set of structured mentoring frameworks to support young people across different stages of their lives.

These frameworks were developed to bring consistency, clarity, and clear end goals to mentoring relationships, helping young people understand what they are working towards and how each session supports their personal development. They also give schools, parents, and partners confidence that mentoring is not just supportive, but purposeful, measurable, and safely delivered.

What Do the Frameworks Cover?

The frameworks span multiple areas of need and age groups, including:

  • Year 6–7 Transition Mentoring – supporting confidence, emotional wellbeing, coping strategies, and school readiness during the move from primary to secondary school, with structured 6-, 8- and 12-week pathways and clear outcomes around belonging, peer relationships, and engagement.

Yr 6-7 transition

  • Emotional Regulation and Conflict Resolution Mentoring – a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach for young people aged 11–18 who struggle with managing emotions, triggers, and relationships, with defined eligibility criteria and clear safeguarding boundaries.

Emotional and Regulation Mentor…

  • Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing (Early Help) Mentoring – focused on low to moderate emotional needs, helping young people build coping strategies, confidence, and healthy help-seeking behaviours, while clearly identifying when specialist or clinical services are required.

Youth Unity Mentoring framework…

  • Life Skills and Independence Mentoring (16–25) – supporting young people to build practical skills such as time management, budgeting, self-care, and problem-solving to prepare for independent living and adulthood.

Life skills and Independence

  • Employment and Training Mentoring – helping young people aged 16–24 develop CVs, interview skills, career awareness, and realistic progression plans into education, training, or employment.

Each framework includes:

  • Clear eligibility and exclusion criteria
  • Defined session structures
  • Adaptable 6-, 8- and 12-week pathways
  • Outcomes that can be measured and reviewed
  • Built-in reflection and planned endings, supporting healthy transitions rather than dependency

Blending Digital Tools with Relationship-Based Practice

Alongside Youth Unity’s accredited training programmes and safeguarding frameworks, these mentoring pathways also integrate the Ambition Project (https://mynd-app.com/), which we have permission to use as part of our delivery.

The Ambition Module supports young people to:

  • Track goals and progress
  • Reflect between sessions
  • Build self-awareness and motivation
  • Stay engaged with their development outside of face-to-face mentoring

This blended approach allows us to combine trusted relationships with practical digital tools, helping young people build skills that transfer into everyday life, education, and work.

Young People Supporting Young People, With Professional Backing

What makes this even more powerful is that these frameworks were created by someone who understands, first-hand, the realities young people face today. This is a clear example of youth-informed practice, where lived experience, professional standards, and safeguarding expectations come together.

At the same time, these frameworks sit within Youth Unity’s wider organisational systems:

  • Case management and safeguarding oversight
  • Professional supervision
  • Accredited training and continuous development

This ensures that while young people are helping shape support, it is always delivered safely, ethically, and in line with statutory expectations.

Growing Talent From Within

We are incredibly proud to support the growth and development of our own staff and mentors. Creating space for initiative like this reflects our wider commitment to:

  • Building future youth work leaders
  • Supporting professional development
  • Valuing innovation at every level of the organisation

This work shows what can happen when young professionals are trusted, supported, and given the opportunity to lead not just in delivery, but in designing the systems that support young people to thrive.

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HRUC college

by Uxbridge UCELWorkshops & Training

Supporting Students to Build Resilience: Youth Unity Workshops with HRUC College Group and Portal Security

This week, Youth Unity CIC is proud to be working in partnership with the HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges) College Group to deliver a series of targeted workshops designed to support young people to build resilience, confidence, and informed decision-making skills.

These sessions focus on some of the key challenges young people are currently facing, including the impact of social media on self-esteem and relationships, the growing influence of artificial intelligence on daily life and learning, and discussions around risk, peer pressure, and the factors that can increase vulnerability to violence and exploitation. By exploring these topics in a safe, supportive environment, students are encouraged to think critically, share experiences, and develop practical strategies for staying safe and supporting one another.

Our approach is rooted in relationship-based and trauma-informed practice. Rather than delivering one-off talks, our workshops are interactive and discussion-led, creating space for students to ask questions, reflect on real-life situations, and build trust with experienced youth practitioners. This allows us to identify where additional support may be helpful and to signpost young people to mentoring, wellbeing services, or other specialist support when needed.

We would also like to thank our colleagues at Portal Security for their ongoing support and collaboration, as well as the dedicated HRUC staff, whose commitment to student wellbeing makes this partnership possible. By working together across education, youth services, and community safety partners, we are able to provide joined-up support that addresses both personal wellbeing and wider safeguarding concerns.

Youth Unity remains committed to working with colleges, schools, and local partners to ensure young people are not only informed about risks, but also equipped with the confidence, skills, and trusted relationships they need to thrive. We look forward to continuing this work with HRUC throughout the academic year and building on the positive engagement we have already seen from students.

Please keep an eye on our website and social channels for further updates as we continue to support young people through creative, preventative, and empowering youth work across our communities.

 

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Hildene Clear Hold

by LONDON BOROUGH HAVERINGMetropolitan PoliceOutreach

Youth Unity is proud to be delivering weekly Youth Sessions in Hilldene, creating a safe, welcoming space for young people to spend time positively, build relationships, and connect with trusted adults in their community.

Taking place every Thursday at 3pm on Farnham Road, Hilldene, our mobile youth van offers a relaxed drop-in environment where young people can take part in activities including gaming consoles, table tennis, basketball, music, and shared social space — with hot drinks available and a friendly team always on hand.

But these sessions are about far more than activities.

A Safe Space with Trusted Adults

Our youth workers are experienced, approachable, and focused on building trust. This means young people have adults they can speak to openly, whether they need advice, reassurance, or simply someone to listen.

Conversations often develop around real issues affecting young people, including school, friendships, wellbeing, safety, and future aspirations. By meeting young people where they already are, we remove barriers to engagement and create opportunities for early support before challenges escalate.

Listening to Young People and Shaping Support

Being consistently present in the same location allows us to build meaningful relationships and better understand what young people in Hilldene want and need. Their voices help shape future activities, projects, and support pathways, ensuring services are relevant and genuinely youth-led.

This approach also helps identify young people who may benefit from mentoring, specialist programmes, or referrals to other services — allowing support to be timely and appropriate.

Strengthening the Wider Community

These sessions are not only for young people. We regularly speak with parents, carers, and local residents who stop by to ask questions, share concerns, or simply say hello. Building positive relationships between young people and the wider community is a key part of creating safer neighbourhoods and reducing tensions.

We welcome local involvement and believe that when young people feel valued and supported by their community, it leads to better outcomes for everyone.

Working in Partnership

These sessions are supported by the Metropolitan Police, as part of a wider commitment to prevention, engagement, and community safety. By working in partnership with statutory services and local organisations, we are able to provide visible, positive youth engagement while also linking young people into wider support when needed.

Looking Ahead

Our goal is to use these sessions as a gateway to longer-term opportunities — including mentoring, creative projects, sports, and skills development — helping young people build confidence, resilience, and positive aspirations.

If you see the big black van on Farnham Road on a Thursday afternoon, please come and say hello. We are always happy to talk, listen, and work together to support local young people.