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Youth Unity Podcast Hub

21/01/2026

by Shirley Jackson London Borough of Bexley Peabody Housing Podcasting

This project is funded by Karakusevic Carson Architects

🎙️ Youth Unity Launches New Podcast Platform and Free Support Sessions at Cygnet Square

Youth Unity is excited to launch a new Podcast Platform and Personal Development Hub at The Lounge, Cygnet Square from 3pm, offering young people a creative space to share their voices while also accessing practical support to help them move forward with confidence.

The new podcast programme gives young people aged 13–25 the opportunity to learn how to plan, record, and produce their own podcasts in a supportive and welcoming environment. Participants will develop skills in interviewing, storytelling, teamwork, and audio production, while also building confidence and communication skills that can support them in education, training, and employment.

We know that many young people have powerful stories, opinions, and experiences that deserve to be heard. This platform is about more than learning technical skills — it is about helping young people feel valued, listened to, and confident to express themselves in positive ways.

Alongside the podcast sessions, Youth Unity is also offering free drop-in support sessions at The Lounge, designed to support young people with real-life challenges and future planning. These include:

CV building and job application support
Employability and interview skills
Money management and budgeting advice
Life skills and personal development courses

Young people can attend for creative opportunities, practical support, or both. Our youth workers and mentors are on hand to provide guidance, encouragement, and clear pathways into further support where needed, including mentoring, wellbeing services, and training opportunities.

All sessions take place at The Lounge, Cygnet Square, and are completely free to attend. The programme is part of Youth Unity’s ongoing commitment to early intervention, youth voice, and community-based support, creating safe and positive spaces where young people can build skills, relationships, and aspirations.

📍 Location: The Lounge, Cygnet Square

👥 Who can attend: Young people aged 13–25

💷 Cost: Free

We look forward to welcoming young people from the local community to get involved, learn new skills, and have their voices heard.

Session 1

Beyond the Box

17/01/2026

by Shirley Jackson London Borough of Bexley Peabody 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.

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The Cage

17/09/2025

by admin Community Development London Borough of Bexley New Projects Peabody Housing

The Cage Summer Programme:
Youth Voice, Art, and Community Impact

This summer, Youth Unity CIC delivered a six-week programme at The Cage in Thamesmead, following strong demand from young people who asked us to return after our first community event in June. Many told us they didn’t feel safe or welcome in the space — but also that they valued the positive, inclusive environment we created.

A Creative Collaboration

Working with C-That.co.uk, the project included a youth-driven art installation. Week after week, young people helped design and paint murals on the outer walls of The Cage, transforming the area into a space they could take pride in. This creative process gave participants a real sense of ownership and visibility.

Consistent Youth Engagement

Over six weeks, we delivered a mix of activities including sports, music recording, podcasting, and gaming. These sessions provided safe, structured alternatives and encouraged young people to return week after week. Attendance was strong across all age groups and backgrounds, showing clear demand for this kind of consistent, positive provision.

What We Found

Our engagement also highlighted some important safeguarding concerns:

Many younger children on the estate are often left unsupervised, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and grooming.
A significant number of young people have become desensitised to gang culture, seeing it as “just a way of life.”
This underlines the urgent need for trusted role models and safe, supportive spaces.

Recognition at the Highest Level

The programme concluded with a visit from the Deputy Mayor of London, who recognised the importance of this work and the value of investing in young people locally. Their presence reinforced that the voices of Thamesmead’s youth matter at both a community and city-wide level.

Impact and Outcomes

Reduced community tensions during a sensitive period.
Engagement of young people most at risk of anti-social behaviour.
Strengthened collaboration with schools, residents, and statutory partners.
Increased awareness of key safeguarding issues including vaping, littering, and weapons.
Six well-attended sessions that promoted wellbeing, community pride, and ownership of The Cage.

Partnership and Support

This programme was made possible through the ongoing support of Peabody Housing, whose funding and partnership ensure that vital community projects like this can continue to make a difference.

The Cage

30/07/2025

by admin London Borough of Bexley New Projects Peabody Housing

🏀 The Cage Summer Programme – Empowering Thamesmead Youth

This summer, Youth Unity CIC is returning to The Cage, Thamesmead, for a powerful 6-week outreach programme – built on real feedback from local young people and backed by community support.

After the success of our June 2025 event, we heard loud and clear that many young people avoid The Cage because it doesn’t always feel safe or welcoming. So we’re coming back to change that – together.

🎯 What’s the Goal?

We’re here to make The Cage a place where young people feel safe, included, and proud to be. Through weekly sessions, we’re bringing:

🌱 Positive engagement
🗣️ Trusted role models
🎨 Creative expression
🏀 Fun activities shaped by youth voice

This isn’t just a drop-in programme – it’s part of a long-term commitment to build trust, reduce antisocial behaviour, and help young people reclaim their space.

📍 What’s Happening Each Week?

Every Tuesday | 3:30pm – 6:30pm | The Cage, Thamesmead
From sports and games to creative workshops and mentoring, our outreach van will be on-site with trained youth workers providing support and safe spaces.

🎨 We’re also launching a collaborative mural project with a local artist and Peabody – giving young people a chance to shape the space visually and take ownership in a powerful, visible way.

🌟 What We’re Aiming For:

Make The Cage a space where young people feel welcome
Offer consistent, trusted presence through experienced youth workers
Provide positive alternatives and mentoring
Improve wellbeing, connection, and pride in the local area
Reduce low-level anti-social behaviour through positive visibility

💬 Why It Matters

Too often, spaces like The Cage become overlooked or underused – not because they lack potential, but because they lack positive, consistent engagement.

This programme is about changing that narrative. With support from Peabody and local partners, we’re creating a platform for youth-led transformation.

🚀 What’s Next?

We’re ready to hit the ground running:

✔️ Staffing and planning underway
✔️ Art mural logistics in progress
✔️ Outreach van and kit on standby
✔️ Local promotion and school outreach launching soon

Together, we’re activating The Cage – not just for the summer, but for the future.Wolve

Commencing: 30th July 2025

Cygnet Square – Summer Sessions

06/07/2025

by admin London Borough of Bexley New Projects Peabody Housing

Youth Unity are excited to announce that we are back at The Nest again this summer, offering young people in Thamesmead a safe, welcoming space right in the heart of Cygnet Square.

Every Tuesday from 22nd July to 26th August, our friendly outreach team will be on the square from 1pm to 3:30pm, creating a trusted drop-in space where young people can relax, connect and get involved in positive activities.

Thanks to our strong footprint in the area, we’ve already built great relationships with the local young people and we’re looking forward to strengthening those connections even more this summer.

Young people will be able to enjoy free activities including Xbox & PS5 gaming, basketball hoops, table tennis, arts and crafts — plus plenty of snacks to keep everyone going!

Our goal is simple: to provide a safe space where young people feel heard, supported and inspired to spend their time positively during the summer break.

This is all possible thanks to our ongoing partnership with Peabody and the brilliant community support we’ve had from local residents and families.

When & Where:
📅 Tuesdays, 22nd July – 26th August
🕐 1pm – 3:30pm
📍 Cygnet Square, London SE2 9FA

Together, we’re building safer, stronger communities for young people one session at a time.

The Cage Thamesmead – SUMMER FUN TIMES

06/07/2025

by admin London Borough of Bexley New Projects Peabody Housing

Following the success of our community event at The Cage in June, we’re excited to announce that Youth Unity will be back in Thamesmead this summer with a brand-new six-week outreach programme and we’ll also be joining the next community event on 4th September.

We heard loud and clear from local young people that The Cage can sometimes feel unsafe or unwelcoming. Many told us they want to see more positive activities happening in the space and we’re here to make that happen through the amazing support from Peabody Housing.

For six weeks over the summer holidays, our outreach team will be at The Cage every Tuesday afternoon. We’ll bring our trusted intervention van to create a safe, welcoming base, and our trained youth workers will be on hand to offer mentoring, support and a listening ear.

Young people will also be able to get involved in informal sports, games, and creative activities shaped by what they want helping build confidence, connection and community pride. One highlight will be a brand-new mural, co-designed with a local artist and young people themselves, to transform the walls of The Cage into something they can own and be proud of.

This is about more than just summer fun it’s about giving young people a reason to return, feel safe and welcome, and have a say in what their community looks like.

Together, we’re turning The Cage into a place where young people feel they belong. We can’t wait to see you there.

Youth & Community Event at The Cage, Thamesmead

02/06/2025

by admin London Borough of Bexley Peabody Housing

Community in Action: Youth Unity Brings Thamesmead Together at The Cage

On a sunny afternoon during half term, Youth Unity proudly hosted a dynamic community event at The Cage, Thamesmead, drawing over 80 young people from across the local area. The event, which took place in partnership with Peabody, was a celebration of youth, community spirit, and positive engagement.

The turnout was a testament to the deep connection we continue to build with young people in the area. Throughout the day, attendees took part in a variety of engaging activities, with an atmosphere that was both safe and uplifting. The event also served as a reminder of the importance of investing in safe, structured spaces for young people — particularly during school holidays.

We were honoured to welcome Councillor Larry Ferguson and Councillor Zainab Asumramu, who both spent time talking with young attendees, local residents, and our team. Their presence demonstrated a strong commitment to listening to the community and being actively involved in youth-focused solutions.

This event forms part of Youth Unity’s wider strategy to support prevention, intervention, and empowerment offering alternatives to negative influences while building trust and resilience. With the invaluable support of Peabody, we were able to provide not just activities, but real connection and opportunity in a space often marked by challenge.

As always, we are inspired by the energy, honesty, and potential of the young people we serve. The feedback from parents, residents, and partners was overwhelmingly positive, and we are already looking ahead to future events in Thamesmead and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make the day such a success. We remain committed to creating spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Men in Sheds, Erith

21/02/2023

by admin Arts & Culture London Borough of Bexley

Podcasting in the community of Erith. Delivered in partnership with Bexley Community Safety Partnership. Interviews include some key people from the local area of Erith.

Podcasting has become a popular way of addressing topics. It has become an important tool in communication. Podcasting can promote important discussions in a safe and comfortable environment. Many platforms that focus on podcasting as a medium are reaching audiences that were previously hard to attract.

Youth unity have used podcasting as a positive way of teaching young people that communicating effectively and raising awareness about topics that affect your immediate surroundings are a good way of creating change.

The core focus of using podcasting as a medium is to enable people of all ages to share the experience of talking together irrespective of age, gender or ability. The outcomes are measured in the recordings and can be an effective way of bridging the gaps in our communities.

The other benefits of using podcasting with young people is that it provides them with a new skill set that can be transferred into every aspect of their lives. Communication is the key to almost every career and the better you are at it the more opportunities are available.

This podcast is working with AgedUk, based in Erith. Whereby they run an amazing project called “Men in Sheds”. The young people had some great questions to ask with some interesting thought provoking answers.

https://www.meninshedsbexley.com/

Young People of Erith

02/02/2023

by admin Bexley Community Safety Partnership London Borough of Bexley Point of View

Through the outreach work we do on a weekly basis, we have the opportunity to meet a variety of different people that live and commute into the community. Through these engagements we have successfully established some firm relationships with people of all ages.

We have also built a reasonably good relationship with many of the youth that live in this catchment.

Many of these young people have gone onto partake in a number of additional projects that have been initiated within the Erith area.

Through this engagement we have supported three young men in particular. These young men, were invited to be part of our project “Project Point of View” a project sponsored by the property developers Dominvs.

We are confident that the summer of 2022 will hold many treasured memories for the young men that took part.

The young men from Bexley are always enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with. They often visit us on our regular outreach provision.

During the summer they able visited spaces such as the US Embassy, high end apartments, constructions sites and even had the opportunity to interview the CEO of the Dominvs group in a scheduled podcast.

For the group the highlight was a five day residential in Cornwall where they all took part in water rafting, paddle boarding, canoeing and they even jumped from twenty foot cliffs to overcome their fear of water and other limiting beliefs they had.

Two of the young men could not swim before the residential, and had a fear of water in general.

Successfully all of the group overcame their fears of water and took part in some of the most challenging activities involving water.

The transformation for these three young men and the wider group was amazing to witness and share with them. They also established life long relationships created by the intense team work and support they offered each other over the days away from their homes and their natural environments.

The overall project will have a long lasting impact on their lives and will promote a better understanding of how they can overcome challenges now and in their futures.

Projects such as the outreach in Erith is proof that being on the streets and meeting the people in the community at a grassroots level really does have an impact.

“touching people’s hearts through your work is the only job that you could do and nobody has to hire you for it.”

Youth Unity works to provide opportunities to young people. This is all made possible meeting local people and opening frank and honest conversations.

More information can be found on this link ...

The Boys representing Erith

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microphone with a podcast icon on a table

Podcasting in the Community of Erith

08/01/2023

by admin Arts & Culture Bexley Community Safety Partnership London Borough of Bexley

Podcasting in the community of Erith. Delivered in partnership with Bexley Community Safety Partnership. Interviews include some key people from the local area of Erith.

The podcasts are available to listen back to on our YUPOD via major platforms such as Spotify, iTunes.

This podcast is working with AgedUk, based in Erith. Whereby they run an amazing project called “Men in Sheds”. The young people had some great questions to ask with some interesting thought provoking answers.

https://www.meninshedsbexley.com/