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About Us
Welcome to Somerset Youth & Community Service

There have been major changes to youth work and youth services in Somerset in the last few months.

Our services have been reorganised to take account for the changes, and to focus our efforts on delivering youth work in the larger commuities, and supporting voluntary groups and local people to start and run their own clubs and projects elsewhere.

Following three years in integrated teams, we are now a Youth & Community Service managed across Somerset.

The website's had a makeover and we hope it provides the sort of information you need. Follow the navigation links to find out more.

Please let us know what sort of things you'd like to see here and we'll do our best. Contact Jeff Brown at jbrown@somerset.gov.uk with any suggestions.

Our Mission 

 

Somerset Youth & Community Service provides and supports opportunities that enable young people to develop their personal and social skills, contribute positively to their communities and make informed choices, whilst engaging in the transition to responsible adulthood. Our work is based on the voluntary nature of the relationships we build with young people, focussing particularly in areas of higher relative social deprivation.

 

Our core delivery

  • Universal youth work in centres, on the streets and where young people gather, in areas of the greatest need.
  • Youth work that enables young people to participate in the running of their youth provision and have their voices heard in their communities. This includes UK Youth Parliament, senior member programmes, youth town and parish councils, project groups for community development and training young people to be volunteers.
  • Supporting the development of the ‘Big Society’ by helping communities to provide their own youth provision. We also enable communities to involve young people in decision-making processes, helping develop future community leaders.
  • Supporting vulnerable young people, who are accessing specialist and targeted support, to engage with universal services.
  • Accreditation of young people's learning and achievement where appropriate.

 

How we do it 

  • We work in partnership with the voluntary sector and local communities to enable them to provide opportunities for young people.
  • We work with 11-19 year olds and up to 25 years for those with additional needs.
  • We deliver quality universal youth work. This includes informal education, skill development and training young people to take an active part in decision making in their communities (for example through volunteering, youth town and parish councils).
  • We welcome all young people, including those who have complex needs. We tailor our work to meet the needs of the young people we work with, helping to ensure that vulnerable young people can take an active part in community life, alongside their peers.