Youth hub offers 'safe space' to fight cyber-bullying

Staff at The Helm believe it is vital for young people to have a space where they can be listened to non-judgementally

Children are being harmed by "toxic" online influencers, exam pressures and cyber-bullying, according to the team behind a new youth hub.

The Helm in Kendal, Cumbria, is intended as a non-judgemental space for young people, where they can visit to socialise, relax or vent about their problems.

With a significant number of children on waiting lists for NHS mental health care, the need for this kind of support in communities is vital, co-director Lil May said.

"They're expected to know their entire career path at a young age, which brings considerable pressure, and we see a lot of the impact of peer pressure and cyber-bullying," she said.

The Helm, a collaborative project led by mental health charity Wave Forward, holds sessions at the No-Hands Rest Coffee House.

It aims to be a sanctuary for its young visitors that offers support and training opportunities.

Ms May said its members shape what happens at the hub, which is important because "most adults who work in charities have never been a child of this generation".

"They don't know what it's like to be young now," she said.

Those coming through its doors can bring with them a variety of problems they are able to discuss with their peers and supportive youth workers.

'Andrew Tate effect'

She said the online influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate was having a significant impact, particularly on young men.

"Some of the things we're hearing from young lads' mouths is like a copy and paste of him.

"That kind of attitude also has a real effect on the girls in their lives and on the communities around them," Ms May added.

In an interview with the BBC in June 2023, when pushed on whether his controversial views on women harmed young people, the influencer claimed he was a "force for good" and he was "acting under the instruction of God to do good things".

Ms May said she hoped the Helm would work to bring young people together and allow them to express their emotions safely and find the support they need.

"If you feel you’re not being heard, or that your emotions don’t matter, try to find someone that will listen because you are valuable," she added.