The youth spacenow pulls up onDebden Broadway
Our media van is parked on The Broadway, and it is open to anyone who wants to get on board. Chess, table tennis, games, music, and adults who are pleased to see you. No booking, no cost, no forms.
Every Wednesday, 3pm to 5.30pm
Most young people are not going to walk into a youth centre on the other side of town. So we stopped asking them to. The Youth Unity media van is now on Debden Broadway every Wednesday afternoon, which means the youth space turns up where people already are.
This is detached youth work, and it is part of THRIVE Epping, our outreach and mentoring programme running across Epping Forest until 2028. In practice it is simple. The van pulls up, the tables come out, and you decide how much you want to get involved. Some people play for two hours. Some hang about on the edge for three weeks before they say a word. Both are fine.
What is on the van
Chess
Boards are always set up. We will teach you from scratch if you have never played, and we will happily lose to you if you have.
Table tennis
The table goes up next to the van. Bats and balls provided, rallies and rematches guaranteed.
Games
Consoles running inside the van, with music, podcasting and media kit to have a go on when you want something different.
Where to find us
Look for the black van with the Youth Unity ring on the side. If the weather is bad we are still there, just more of us inside the van than outside it.
Who it is for
Anyone aged 10 to 25 in and around Debden. You do not need a referral, a reason, or a friend to come with. Turn up on your own if that is easier.
Our team are qualified youth workers, DBS checked and trained in safeguarding. If something bigger is going on for you, we can carry on the conversation away from the street through one to one mentoring, which covers everything from confidence and anxiety to school, CVs, interviews and apprenticeships.
How we run it
- Make friendsBuild confidence at your own pace
- Safe and respectfulEveryone gets treated the same way
- Have fun, stay activeGet involved as much as you want
- Be yourselfYou belong here as you are
If you are a parent or carer
You are welcome to come and meet the team on any Wednesday. Plenty of parents do, usually to work out whether this is the kind of thing their young person would like. Ask us anything about how sessions are staffed and how safeguarding works.
If you are worried about someone at home, get in touch and we will talk through whether outreach or one to one mentoring would help. Some young people would rather get support away from their own area, and that can be arranged at our Unity Hub in Romford.
If you work with young people
Schools, GPs, social prescribers, housing teams and community safety partners can refer directly. Send us the details and we will pick it up, either through the Wednesday sessions or through mentoring, depending on what suits the young person.
Come and say hello
The easiest thing is to turn up on a Wednesday. If you would rather ask something first, message or call the team and a real person will answer.
THRIVE Epping is delivered by Youth Unity CIC. The programme is funded through The Community Fund at Epping Forest District Council, with the support of Google.org.