New Andover Youth Centre will be run by the community, for the community

The space, which is part of the Andover Community Centre, is run by Manor Gardens Welfare Trust, staffed and supported by the community, for the community. All of its staff live locally, including on the Andover Estate, and some already know many of the young people.

They are supported by a range of local volunteers, community leaders and parents who will all work together with the young people and focus on their interests and aspirations, creating a ‘bridge’ for them to the wider range of opportunities available in the borough and further afield, including the nearby Platform youth hub.

The youth work includes a broad programme of activities that will be completely free and open to all young people aged 11 to 14, with a strong focus on those who may not have come across youth work before and need tailored support.

As they transition from primary into secondary school, vulnerable young people of this age are particularly at risk of being exploited and drawn into serious youth violence and other criminal activity. Following feedback from local residents and stakeholders, the support will be aimed at this often hard-to-reach age group as part of the council’s prevention and early intervention work.

Cllr Michelline Safi Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “We want to give all Islington’s young people the best start in life and create a more equal borough for everyone.

“As part of this we have continued to invest heavily in children’s services, including focusing on youth spaces and youth provision to help keep our young people safe and engaged – and ensuring they can all grasp the opportunities our borough offers them.

“Manor Gardens Welfare Trust not only supports our prevention and early intervention approach, but really is bringing the community to the centre in every sense. Not only is it supporting local employment but the staff will be friendly and familiar faces, offering a warm welcome in a safe haven and an exciting range of activities.”

One of the staff is long-time volunteer and Andover Estate resident Lizzie Kennedy. She said: "I am proud to be working and making a difference in my local community. These young people are amazing and creative. I want to work towards them having the best experience of a youth space. I have been involved in youth work for 10 years unpaid. This is my first paid job. I love my job and wouldn't want to do anything else!"

The centre will help young people develop their resilience, confidence, and sense of self-worth, broadening their horizons and experiencing life beyond home and school. They will get to try out new activities, discover new passions and hidden talents, see new places and meet new people in a safe and supportive environment. A hot meal will also be offered to every child.

The programme will be further shaped and developed by young people and families as the service beds in this autumn.

Notes to editor

The new Andover Community Centre youth provision is informed by the council’s Youth Safety Strategy 2020-2025. It forms part of the council’s early intervention and prevention approach that has proved successful in reducing serious youth violence and diverting vulnerable young people at risk of exploitation.

The centre is open four evenings per week in term time and will provide daytime sessions during school holidays.

Throughout, the centre will offer volunteering opportunities for parents and flexible work experience placements for local residents, as well as community mentors who speak various languages to help engage parents and reassure them about the safety and suitability of the centre for their children.

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust:

We are a health and wellbeing charity based in Islington since 1913. Our vision is to build strong communities where all people have good health, resilience and opportunity. We work with people to take action to change their lives for the better. Our services promote mental and physical health and wellbeing and increase social inclusion.

Our Living Well services prevent the escalation and deepening complexity of difficulties experienced by people which impact upon their life opportunities, health and wellbeing, through early intervention and prevention. We work alongside people to understand their needs and develop our expertise in person-centred interventions for diverse communities from childhood to adulthood. We seek to influence system change to create a greater impact.

Our services are diverse, reflecting the communities we work with, and include bilingual support and targeted interventions. Most of the people we help have multiple issues, and we provide direct holistic support to individuals alongside a programme of activities and onward referrals.

Our current services include:

• Bilingual support for refugees and migrants, particularly for pregnant women and new mothers.
• Triage, assessment and advocacy in English and community languages for vulnerable Islington residents, including those with complex conditions and stroke survivors
• Therapeutic support and advocacy for vulnerable people including survivors of FGM and domestic violence
• Social activities for isolated individuals, including the elderly and people with mental health issues
• Raising awareness of mental wellbeing amongst Islington’s diverse communities.
• Two nurseries offering stimulating and safe learning environments to give children the best start in life.