Our Story

Our Story

Young Leicestershire

History

With over 70 years of experience and professional expertise recognised as unmatched in our field, Young Leicestershire operates entirely as a charitable organisation. Formed in 1951 as the Leicestershire Association of Boys’ Clubs, we have witnessed many changes. In the 1970s, the clubs became inclusive, opening their doors to girls as well as boys, and were renamed The Leicestershire Boys and Girls Clubs. This later changed to Leicestershire Clubs for Young People and in 2013, we merged with another local charity and became known as Young Leicestershire. Throughout the decades we have been proud to support our amazing member network, some of whom were established as early as 1947 and are still going strong today, a testament to the dedicated staff, volunteers and young people alike.

Oadby 1947, Eyres Monsell 1960, Evington 1964 and New Parks 1969

Throughout these changes, we have remained committed to our core offer for our members and groups, while continually expanding and developing our services to meet the current needs of our young people.

Youth Work – The ever-changing landscape

While we understand that some things never change – young people like to have fun, be creative, and have trusted adults they can go to for support. We have remained committed to our core offer for our members and groups while continually expanding and developing our services to meet the current needs of today’s young people. We have driven inclusivity, equality, and diversity across our membership and in the work we do directly with young people.

Putting Young People First

Inclusivity, Diversity and Equality

Children and young people with learning disabilities face significant challenges in their educational, health, and social lives. These challenges include an increased risk of mental health issues, social isolation, poor physical health, poverty, bullying, limited participation in social activities, and a heightened vulnerability to child sexual exploitation (CSE).

At our organisation, inclusivity is a core value. We actively support and promote inclusivity by creating specialised groups for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our groups in New Parks and Blaby are among the most effective community resources available, providing a supportive social environment that fosters a sense of belonging for SEND youth.

Through non-formal educational activities, our dedicated youth workers strive to remove barriers for these socially excluded children and young people. We offer a safe space where they can socialise, have fun, make friends, and talk to someone who understands and can assess their needs quietly and effectively.

Ensuring access to safe places, support, and opportunities across our network is crucial. This is why our youth work services are available to every child and young person in Leicester and Leicestershire. We recognise that young people with learning disabilities may be hesitant to engage in mainstream provisions due to concerns about safety and consideration of their needs. However, the young people we support do not face these concerns, as we provide an environment where their needs are met and they feel safe and valued.

Support for Young Carers

Young carers take on significant adult responsibilities, often from a young age. A young carer is defined as someone 18 years old or younger who helps look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. Some children begin caregiving at an early age, while others take on this role suddenly. Caring for someone can be isolating, stressful, and worrisome, negatively impacting their education as they often worry about what is happening at home when they are not there.

Another challenge for young carers is recognising their role. Many only realise their home life is different from their friends’ when they reach secondary school, as their caregiving responsibilities have become their normal.

While we cannot take away their caring responsibilities, we can provide them with much-needed breaks. Our aim is to offer young carers opportunities to relax, have fun, and experience moments of being carefree young people, even if just for a short while.

Our Reach

We have detached/street-based youth work teams, that are an invaluable resource. They engage with young people in their local communities, in the environment they are most comfortable in. The benefits of which, aim to address the unique needs of youth in those settings
We are the East Midlands Network Lead for George William YMCA College – helping to work collaboratively to progress thinking and practice in impact measurement in youth work and provision for young people
Representation and Trustee for the Voluntary Sector for Leicester and Leicestershire, on the East and East Midlands Regional Youth Work Unit
Parish Councils – delivering youth work in rural areas of Leicestershire
Voluntary Sector representative for the Leicestershire County Council Youth and Justice Management Board