Since launching their detached youth work sessions at the end of 2023, Beyond Youth have seen how working in partnership with other local organisations can really benefit the young people they are working with.
Beyond Youth began detached youth work sessions in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea in October 2023, committed to earning a welcome in the community as guests and (hopefully) neighbours. As we met young people we were very generously welcomed as we played games, drank hot chocolate and listened to what they had to say. Young people and 
adults alike very quickly told us that the town needed a drop in, open access youth club. There are plenty of structured opportunities – football, boxing, scouting – but precious few spaces just for young people to “be”.
Following a community consultation, Newbiggin Youth Club launched in May last year as a place for children and young people to relax, have fun, make friends, learn new skills and enjoy the finest free hot chocolates in town. It was slow to start, with a faithful fortnightly gathering of 2-4 young people in year 7+, and later a group of around 6 in year 4-7. Thanks to a surprise partnership in the Autumn term led to it has now grown to 20 young people each time.
Over the summer, Pride Action North, a charity who seek to support children and young people in the LGBTQIA+ community, were also running outreach sessions in Newbiggin-
By-The-Sea as part of their project funded by the NIECP called “Roaming Roots”. They were hearing what we had been hearing – that young people want and need a youth club in the town. As their overarching mission is “to make the world a safer, more inclusive and accepting place for everybody to live, and to end discrimination in all its forms”, they committed to helping provide such a place. When they heard about the Newbiggin Youth Club, they got in touch and arranged for some of their staff to help out, meaning that the year 7+ group could meet every week.
The staff have been fantastic at welcoming young people, cheering on the existing volunteer team, providing new and creative activities, and generally celebrating the club as it grows. Both Beyond Youth and Pride Action North have other aims (in our case creating opportunities to explore the Christian faith and to worship, in their case supporting LGBTQIA+ young people) but creating safe spaces for children and young people to thrive is right at the heart of both of our approaches, and working together has created a beautiful place that young people enjoy.
This isn’t the only partnership that is adding beauty to this club. The Elizabethan Hall, who host the group, are incredible supporters of the group, and volunteers from their woodwork shed have joined the group to teach the young people some woodwork skills. Local creatives, working with county Durham based Cyan, have put in a funding bid to Newbiggin Town Council to give young people the chance to try their hand at designing and painting murals. Volunteers from Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway are creating opportunities for young people to take part in the renovation of a much-loved local attraction.
Sadly, due to funding running out, the partnership between Pride Action North and Beyond Youth has had to end, but if new funding is found then we will look forward to working with them again! For now, we look forward to continuing welcoming children and young people in Newbiggin, getting to know them better, and seeing what amazing things they get up to.