Supporting Youth Voice and Access to Local Youth Services
Youth Unity CIC is proud to be supporting young people in Gillingham by helping to amplify their voices and improve access to local youth services, working alongside Medway Youth Service and community partners.
As part of this work, young people are being encouraged to share their views about Gillingham High Street and their experiences of the local area. This feedback is being gathered through a simple QR code survey, allowing young people to quickly and anonymously share what they like, what concerns them, and what they would like to see improve. Capturing youth voice in this way ensures that future plans and services are shaped by the real experiences of young people who use these spaces every day.
Alongside this, a second QR code links directly to Medway Youth Service’s registration of interest for Gillingham youth sessions, making it easier for young people and families to find out about local youth provision and sign up for upcoming activities. This helps remove barriers to access and ensures young people can connect with trusted support in their community.
Youth Unity’s Role in Supporting Engagement
Youth Unity is supporting this project by engaging directly with young people, encouraging participation, and helping them understand how their voices can influence positive change in their local area. Through relationship-based youth work, staff build trust with young people and support them to feel confident in sharing their views, concerns, and ideas.
This approach recognises that young people are experts in their own experiences. By providing safe and accessible ways for them to contribute feedback, we help ensure that local regeneration, safety planning, and youth services reflect what young people actually need and want, rather than assumptions made about them.
Connecting Young People to Wider Support
As part of our wider safeguarding and early-help approach, Youth Unity also ensures young people are aware of additional support services available across Medway and Kent. This includes access to help around mental health, emotional wellbeing, substance misuse, sexual health, bereavement, online safety, and healthy lifestyles, with clear signposting to specialist services where needed.
This holistic approach means that engagement is not just about activities, but about ensuring young people know where they can turn if they need extra help, advice, or someone to talk to.
Why Youth Voice Matters
When young people feel listened to, they are more likely to engage positively with their community and local services. Giving them a platform to express their views about places like Gillingham High Street helps decision-makers understand what is really happening on the ground and where support, investment, or changes may be needed.
It also helps young people see that their opinions matter and that they can play an active role in shaping their environment, which is an important part of building confidence, civic pride, and long-term community safety.
Working Together for Better Outcomes
This project reflects Youth Unity’s ongoing commitment to partnership working, early intervention, and prevention. By supporting Medway Youth Service’s outreach and registration process, and by encouraging young people to share their views, we are helping to strengthen local youth infrastructure and ensure young people are not overlooked.
We look forward to continuing this work in Gillingham, supporting young people to have a voice, access opportunities, and connect with services that can help them thrive.
