Project helping young people 'stay out of trouble'

Adam, 19, has been a member of his local Young People Cornwall youth club for 11 years

A teenager has said he feels thankful for a youth project, backed by BBC Children in Need, that gave him a safe space to think.

Adam, 19, has been a member of his local Young People Cornwall youth club for 11 years after struggling to concentrate in school.

Young People Cornwall, which provides youth work activities for youngsters in the county who are not fully engaged in education, has received £106,847.00 from BBC Children in Need.

Adam said: "Having a place like this is brilliant, it saves people from going out and getting into trouble in the town."

Adam described himself as a "nuisance in school", struggling with undiagnosed ADHD at the time.

"They thought I was being naughty for no reason, but I wasn't, I just couldn't control myself and I didn't know why", he said.

This project is designed to improve young people's engagement in education, reduce their vulnerability to criminal exploitation and improve their mental health.

Adam said it took for him to be arrested to realise he did not want this to happen to any other person.

"They need more places like this so that more of these young people don't go down these bad routes," he said.

"After school it would just give us something to do", said Adam

Their grant runs until April 2028 and contributes towards the salary costs for three youth workers, manager, volunteer costs, as well as activity and project costs, and the rent and utility costs.

The centres are located across Cornwall and activities include support sessions, sports clubs like dancing and boxing, street work, and youth clubs.

Catherine Hendy, project manager at Young People Cornwall, said: "Children in Need's funding is absolutely vital to the work we do at Young People Cornwall."

She said the "funding helps us provide the consistent support, trusted relationships, and positive opportunities to reach their full potential".

Adam said: "It's a safe space to think, that's my favourite thing about it, they're just making sure everyone's alright and they've got somewhere to go."

"I'm thankful for that because it's probably kept me out of a lot more trouble than I've been in. I think it does the same for all these kids," he added.

"It's not just about activities or drop-in sessions, it's about giving young people stability, and someone who genuinely believes in them," said Ms Hendy.

Youth centre locations:

• Blackwater

• Porthtowan

• Mount Hawke

• Truro

• St Agnes

• Bodmin

• Liskeard

• Newquay

• Helston

• Redruth

• St Austell