The Friday night drop-in was designed to provide a safe space for young people (S1+) to be themselves and keeping them off the streets. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity for staff to build strong relationships with learners who use the service and gives us ideas for the kinds of groups we may host at the centre that we believe are necessary and encourage young people to attend groups that interest them.
The busiest group we have is Friday night drop-ins, when up to 40–50 young people can attend the centre. This provides learners with the chance to visit and interact with other learners. Friday night drop in assists in providing young people with additional knowledge on resources they may utilise to support their lifestyles.
Working with young people on a Friday night discourages them from participating in risky activity in the community. The team leader mentioned at a community meeting where local police officers were in attendance that they observed a decline in community behaviour since the centre became accessible on Friday nights. Working over the months with the young people know what behaviours and boundaries are acceptable and not acceptable when accessing the centre.
With learners attending the centre regularly 6 young people were identified to take part in a funded opportunity to create and develop a mural for the side of the building. The mural was designed for the local community to get an understanding of the services that we provide. Young people met on a Tuesday and gave all their ideas and worked together. Young people and staff are all proud of their work and the creation that they came up with.