'Feels like Home' - Young people's experience of Relational Hubs

“It’s always just so welcoming.
The atmosphere…Like, even
with, like, the youth workers
there, who’d be like obviously
much older than you, they’d still
want to include you in card
games at the table. You always
feel wanted there.”
16-year-old male, Thirst
Knowing the people who were
going to be there created a
sense of ongoing community
or, for some, even the feeling of
another family.
‘It’s just been great! Yeah, I feel
like I’ve got like another little
family where I can just pop in
and say ‘Hi”.
17-year-old female, Thirst
Fun place to socialise
As well as being a context
for hanging out with existing
friends, many of those we
interviewed had valued meeting
new people, and specifically
mentioned the way the space
brought together those from
different backgrounds, from
different schools, different ages
and with different interests. You
might arrive with one group of
friends, but over time develop a
whole new set of relationships.
Interviewer:
“How would you sum up what
it’s been like coming to the Bell
Tower for you?”
Young person:
“Life changing.”
Interviewer:
“Because?”
Young person:
“I got to meet these wonderful
people, I got to meet new
friends, I’ve got friends that I
never would have met if I never
went to the Bell Tower.”
16-year-old male, Belltower
Gatherings of young people
in public places are not always
welcomed, so a place to gather
with friends and feel accepted,
was important.
“You don’t sort of feel like you’re
imposing or being judged for
being somewhere where you
shouldn’t be, or people would
rather that you weren’t, as sort
of a younger person.”
20-year-old female, Thirst
And although young people
saw their friends at school,
the atmosphere, facilities,
and space made youth hubs
particularly good places
for socialising. During our
interviews, young people would
describe the physical space to
us, highlighting the wide range
of different activities available
at the various hubs, including
board games and card games,
arts and crafts, pool tables,
table tennis, sofas to relax on
and spaces where they could
do homework. There were areas
to make milkshakes, games
consoles, and screens for
watching films.
Chart 1: Young people’s reasons for coming to the drop-in
“Why did you start coming to the project?”
Seemed like a nice place to hang out
Friends were coming
Wanted something to do after school
Invited by youth workers
Someone at school suggested it
11
12
14
24
33
Needed support & help
5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
9