Youth workers praised for creating safe spaces

Youth workers spent time de-escalating conflicts in violence hotspots across Coventry.

Youth workers in Coventry have been praised for their dedication after 130 children and young people were referred to mentoring programmes.

Workers spent the six-week school summer holidays meeting young people and de-escalating conflicts in parks, city centres and violence hotspots in the city.

Teams from Sky Blues in the Community, Guiding Young Minds, Empowr-U, Guardian Ballers and Coventry Boys and Girls Club clocked up 1,000 hours in total.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said the workers were "vital" to the city's commitment to tackling youth violence.

The £35,000 summer initiative was funded by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) and led by Coventry City Council as part of its campaign for a child-friendly Coventry.

Ash McBride, senior community coach at Sky Blues in the Community (SBIC) said being out in the community every day gave them the chance to connect with young people on their terms.

He said they used sports and games to break the ice in parks to start conversations with young people.

He added: "It was about building trust, creating safe spaces and just being present – talking, listening, showing we cared.

"Young people said they felt listened to, more seen, and you could see them grow in confidence. Their energy, honesty and resilience showed us why this work matters."

'Impossible' without youth workers

Mr Foster said the importance of such youth work is often "overlooked" and needs more recognition.

He said: "It would be impossible without the dedication of those youth workers on the ground who know their communities and the challenges their young people face.

"Coventry's Community Safety Partnership does a brilliant job of bringing those teams together and working with them and the police to ensure they are operating in areas where they can have maximum impact.

"This is something which the VRP (violence reduction partnership) replicates across the West Midlands, with £35,000 going to each local authority area for detached youth work every year."